Dear List,
Recently someone wrote about trouble with or in search of options to the harmony sleeve in a case with excessive adipose tissue. Sorry I did not save the posting to respond directly, but this may help……..
5’1″, 350 lbs, BKA in her temporary/preparatory prosthesis: TSB, expulsion valve, currenly 5 ply cotton sock fit, size 32 easy sleeve, redundant adipose tissue along medial-posterior aspect of distal thighs/knees.
Easy Sleeve accomodates thigh size easily and does not roll when donned with more than 3″ coverage prox’ to superior aspect of patella. Called to PT secondary to “loss of suction” and knee sleeve “slipping off pts thigh” in gait. Valve working correctly. No holes noted in knee sleeve. Watching pt/prosthesis from behind and noted a void at the posterior aspect of her knee where the knee sleeve was not able to seal against her skin. The redundant tissue forms a crevas which, when the knee sleeve does not terminate well above it, the air enters the system via this tissue channel. pt now makes sure the knee sleeve terminates at mid-thigh which allows for approximately 4″ above this anaomaly and = good suspension.
Hope this helps.
Rick Milen, CPO, PTA
