Results: paediatric prosthetic knee

Results: paediatric prosthetic knee

ana medeiros

5/18/1999

Hello,

I would like to thank all who answered me. I'm really grateful for your
help and attention. Best regards for all of you,
Ana Medeiros


Here follows the result with all responses:

======== Original Message ========
  To: <Email Address Redacted>
  From: ana medeiros < <Email Address Redacted> >

Hello,

I'm studying about paediatric prosthetic knees, but I have many
questions. If anyone has anything to comment, please do it. I would be
glad, and less ignorant.

-I found a restricted number of knees, specially for children who are
receiving their first articulated knee. Are there others than those
produced by Century, Endolite, Seattle, Otto Bock, USMC, IPOS, Daw?
-Which knee would be proper for theses children?

Thanks in advance,

Ana Medeiros
Graduate student
Chiba University, Japan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi!

How come a portuguese name so far away, in Japan?
Your name made me curious, so here I am.
I think you have about the whole range covered; for me the most reliable

ones are those from Endolite and Century; sturdy, light and not very
expensive.
Best regards and tell me about your name.

Carlos Quelhas / Padrão Ortopédico
<Email Address Redacted>

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Ana. My name is John Stephenson and I am a certified prosthetist at
The
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas. This is a
pediatric,
orthopedic hospital for kids aged from birth to 18 years old. The knees
of
choice that we use often are the pediatric total knee and the DAW four
bar
knee. We utilize these more because of the size and type(polycentric).
You
are correct in noticing that there are a limited number of knees out
there
for kids. I cannot comment on all of the knees made by the companies
that
you have mentioned. Another reason for the knees we use is the space
availability above the knee.
A lot of our patients have PFFD and their prosthetic limb is longer or
the
same length as their contralateral limb. Therefore we want a knee that
allows us to get as close to the knee center as possible. Some of the
knees
do not allow this because instead of a bracket above the knee, they use
a
pyramid which adds more length. Here we also stock a lot of parts for
the
century and DAW knees so we have available parts on hand for repairs. I
hope
this helps some. Let me know. Take care.
                                                                John
Stephenson, CP

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi there Ana,

I am a prosthetist in Michigan (USA) and also am an amputee. I have
been in
the feild for ten years and have made several prosthetic devices for
children. If you have any specific questions you may contact me at the
following address.
<Email Address Redacted>

Christopher Perry

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

China Training Centre For Orthopaedic Technologists

Dear Ana,

You should try a russian company called OIME. They are an offspring of
the russian
Space contractor ENERGIA. The interesting component for you is a
polycentric knee
which can be used on 2 year old children.

Their faxnumber is 007 095 5160560 (you have to dial the 0 before 95
even from
abroad).

Yours sincerely
Michael Mais (Prosthetist/Orthotist)

 CHICOT, 25 Xue Yuan Jie, 101601 Yan Jiao, P.R. CHINA
Tel: +86 010 61590977 Fax: +86 010 61590972 Email:
<Email Address Redacted>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ana,
the key here is to understand that the choice of knee for any patient is

less dependent on the brand than on the function that one is seeking for

that particular patient. The brand names that you have mentioned all
make
different types of knees for children and our choice is directed to the
one
which suits the purposes of the individual child. The perceived fact
that
there are a restricted number of knees is perhaps because we don't need
the
wide range of functions for children as we do for adults who are set in
their ways functionally and are therefore more difficult, in that
respect at
least, to fit. Children are able to be educated more easily than adults
in
gait.
I sincerely hope that I have added something for thought, Richard
Ziegeler
<Email Address Redacted>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The DAW knee is of poor quality. The phenolic tube at the center of the

mechanism wears out rapidly. It requires too much maintenance for use
on
active children. I have used the pediatric Total Knee by Century XXII
but
was disappointed to find that it lacks any sort of friction control
adjustment.

Ted A. Trower C.P.O.
A-S-C Orthotics & Prosthetics
Jackson, Michigan, USA
<Email Address Redacted>