Responses:ankle units for bilaterals

Responses:ankle units for bilaterals

This is a question I posted followed by the responses. Thanks to those who
responded.


 I am a CPO and will be posting the answers when they stop coming in. Please
respond if you have input, prosthetists and bilateral amputees. Thank you!
     I would like to hear your experiences(not just opinions or theory) in
regards to the use of articulating ankle units for bilateral LE prostheses.
     Is this additional motion beneficial to the amputee, or does it impair
the stability gained from the connection with the floor? AK vs BK. Long stump
vs short? Active vs less active?

Randy McFarland,CPO
Sunny Hills Orthopedic Services, Inc.
Fullerton, CA
www.sunnyhills.com



In my humble opinion ankles are a benefit to a bilateral BK amputee. I have
used over the last several years many different combinations of ankles and
feet. DAS MARS with Seattle Lite feet, endolite ankles with a variety of
feet as well as their own, College Park feet to name a few. If nothing else
it slows the foot or moves the foot to the floor in a more fluid fashion so
that the pitching forward feeling with every step is decreased. The shock
absorbtion from one surface to another is a positive feature too. I have
used articulating ankles on patients with long and short limbs, geriatric and
adult in the younger years, even 2 different stubbie wearers with success.
All things are not for all people. Most manufacturers are very kind about
returns if it doesn't work.
K. Penney CP

I have had very good success with using the College Park feet on
bilateral patients. I have a traumatic bilat. BK, 36Yr. old Female with
7 residuum's in great shape that walks on the treadmill for 1/2 hr.
then stationary bike for 1/2 hr. every other day, along with walking
approx. 1 mi. @ day for her job. She has superb gait characteristics
and has climbed the statue of liberty. But there's always a catch. Her
temporary prostheses were with endolite ankles and she is now in her
first set of definitive prostheses. She has had this motion since the
start. I do have other bilat. patients using College Park feet as well
and usually one side has stiffer forefoot and heel bumpers (dominant
side).

Recently, I had a Bil. BK who I changed from Seattle Lite Feet to Endolite
Multiflex Feet/ankles and loved the change and difference right from the
beginning.
He claims that he felt more stable, able to traverse and laterally move
better.

Chad Marquis, CPO

We have HUGE success with bilats of all types with our foot, the TruStep
(see the web site listed below). The logic is simple: what will work
better are those designs more analogous to the human foot, as the human
foot is the design to emulate. How can a rigid foot benefit a bilat?
How can it be more stable. The answer is, it cannot. However, there
are right and wrong ways to do articulation. Our very significant
success in this regard is a testament to that.

I have worn all types of feet and am now thoroughly addicted to the
TruStep for the reason outlined above. I have also worked very hard to
make the foot much better over the last 2 years.

Let me know if I can be of personal assistance to you.

Chris Johnson, Director of Engineering
College Park Industries, Inc.
<Email Address Redacted>
www.college-park.com
800.728.7950