Urgent: Responses to orthotic hip joint question

Urgent: Responses to orthotic hip joint question

David Hendricks, CPO, FAAOP

Dear listserv members:

A few days ago I posted the following question:

I am designing a new type of hip orthosis joint for post-surgical hip
replacements. I would like input on the following questions:

What kind of hip joint do you prefer?
What functions do you prefer? (That is, do you value adjustable abduction, or
would you prefer to just bend the bar stock and save the weight?)
How important to you is reduced weight?
How important to you is reduced bulk?
At what abduction angle do you usually set the hip joint? (ex: 10-15%?)
At what flexion-extension stops do you usually set the orthosis? (ex: 0-75%?)
Any other help would be appreciated.

And I got the following responses:

RESPONSES

For posterior dislocation:
5-15 degrees abduction
Allow 0-70 degrees flexion range--0-50 if it is used because a patient
dislocated.
Different settings are needed for anterior dislocations:
neutral position for ab and adduction
Block at least last 30 degrees of extension
Usually block flexion at 70 degrees just in case there is global instability
Please let me know your results.

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Dear David

Exotec and Orthomerica have a new Hip joint that is incredible and solves all
the problems related to hip orthoses. Both joints abduct as you flex the hip
and adduct as you extend the hip. The Exotec joint is called the Genesis and
the Orthomerica joint will be found( spring 2001 I think) on a new Newport
Brace (Newport 5, I believe).

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David- this is not quite an answer to your question, but while you are at
it, we who take care of folks with spina bifida and other causes of
paraplegia have long coveted an HKAFO that would allow abduction to
facilitate female self-cathing.

Thank you all for your responses. If anyone has more to add, I would love to
read it. Thanks.

David


David Hendricks, CPO, FAAOP
HOPE, Inc.
Zephyrhills, FL
acebrace.com
(800) 613-8852
fax: (888) 440-1217