At 04:07 PM 9/29/97 -0400, I wrote:
I have a young woman client who has proven to be especially challenging to
fit successfully. She is of average build and height with an extremely
short tibia and no fibula on her right BK (trans-tibial) limb. For many
years she refused to wear joints and a lacer because she would not wear a
waist belt suspension. This caused her to ambulate with up to 30 degrees of
varus instability at the socket but was functional. Some time ago I
successfully converted her to using joints and a lacer with a sleeve
suspension. Then more recently to joints and laminated thigh section with
an ICEROSS suspension.
In both of these latter fittings she has ambulated with a much more stable
and plumb gait. Unfortunately she has never gone more than three months
with out breaking one or both of her joint uprights. I have used Bock BK
joints, Bock KD joints and most recently joints from a Townsend knee orthosis.
What joint would you recommend I try next? She dropped into my office this
morning to express her willingness to give up on using the thigh support and
to return to the uncosmetic and inefficient gait of her previous fitting as
the frequent structural failures have become inconvenient. I know that I
have only one try left, I want and need it to work. I want to stay with the
laminated thigh section as well.
Thanks for your thoughts
Ted A. Trower C.P.
