Thank you for all your responses, following is the original question
with the replies.
Mark Raabe
Otto Bock (A/Asia)
Dear Colleagues,
I’m looking for the best alternative to the G 2 Knee brace for OA
patients. Would be interested in what you had to say about comparable
orthoses that are out in the market?
Best Regards
Mark Raabe
Otto Bock (A/Asia)
The defiance by donjoy with a built in varus or valus correction and an
inflatable knee pad….
there is a lifetime warranty on the frame and the weight is only about
18 ounces
We manufacture our own custom made “unloading” KCO’s using Otto Bock S/S
KCO
free motion knee joints with varus or valgus stress built in depending
on
the affected compartment. The springiness of the OB S/S uprights makes
this
an ideal knee joint for this application. We utilise copolymer shells
and a
similar strapping configuration to the G2.
Regards Allan Wicks
I have had the best results with the DonJoy OA line. They have several
to
choose from. Their first OA brace, the Monarch, is not my favorite. It
has
a good idea, but it is not as functional as it could be. If I need a
custom OA brace, I get the Defiance made and incorporate about 5 degrees
varus or valgus into the brace, depending on which compartment I’m
trying
to unload. They have two excellent off-the-shelf braces. The Patient
Ready Monarch does a good job of unloading the knee and is easy to
customize. My favourite of all their OA braces is the OPAL. This just
came
out a few months ago. It is a softgoods brace. The problem I have
found
with OA bracing is that the patients that need it the most are the least
compliant patients. The OPAL consists of a drytex (neoprene alternative)
sleeve that is wraparound at the thigh and full circumference on the
calf.
It has a single hinge to be on the opposite side to the affected
compartment. This hinge can be custom-shaped with their bending tool to
offer a certain degree of unloading. You also have a choice of condyle
pads. I like the pneumatic (the pre-filled for you less compliant
patients, and the patient-controlled pneumatic for the more compliant
patients). This way the patient has some control over their brace.
With
the OPAL, you cannot unload quite as much as the custom braces, but you
now
are able to fit a lot more people with OA braces that you will never
have
to service. I hope this helps.
Ernie Hobbs, ATC
Atlantic Coast Orthopedics
Goldsboro, NC
Dear Mark, have you looked into the custom ACL braces from such
manufacturers as Orthotech, Donjoy, etc. that will build a specified
amount
of correction into the brace to unload the affected compartment? My
experience is that the ACL braces with bilateral joints are not prone to
rotation and ultimately, distal migration. They are also more durable.
I
would stick with one of the top three or four manufactures though.
I’ve had good results with the Don Joy Defiance adjusted for medial or
lateral unloading. It especially works well with active patients.
Steve Strasburg, C.O.
University of Michigan O&P Center
734-973-2400
Fax: 734-973-3124
Page: 734 936 6266 ID 6021
email: [email protected]
Hello,
WE use the Townsend “reliever” and with the amount of geriatric
patients
we deal with they are very popular. The rigidity of this brace is what
makes it work, holding the femur and tibia in a relationship which
unloads
the problem areas.
Gene Solyntjes C.O. C. Ped
Try the Townsend Reliever GS or Air. Townsend is at 800-432-3466 or
www.townsenddesign.com
I have used the DonJoy Patient ready unloader with some success and also
the
FlexTech Custom made unloader. I like that the FlexTech has bilateral
knee
joints for additional strength. The problem with these orthoses
sometimes
arises when the patient has moderate or severe valgus (lateral
compartment
syndrome). The joints are placed opposite the affected compartment and
the
patient often complains of the contralateral leg chaffing against the
medial
joint of the brace. That is usually when I use a GII brace. Otherwise,
the
unloaders seem equal as far as function. I think Townsend also makes an
off
the shelf unloader. It also depends how severe the problem is. The
DonJoy
patient-ready or custom made is good for mild cases. For moderate to
severe,
use Flex-Tech. They will also use droplocks on the joints if you need
them.
Also, be careful as far as placement of the joint. GII places the joint
on
the side of the affected compartment and exerts a pulling effect to open
the
compartment. DonJoy places the joint opposite the affected compartment
and
uses a 3-point pressure system to open the compartment. FlexTech works
the
same way, but they have bilateral joints. This difference can be
confusing.
Good luck, Paula Martinek
