Drop locks responses

Drop locks responses

John Cumbo

1/27/2003

Hi list server members
Thanks to all those who responded to my question (below)



Hi List server members (orthotist & prosthetist in particular)
Has anyone ever encountered a situation where by, clothing worn over a
drop locking orthosis Kafo caused the drop locks to disengage? If so
with what degree of regularity? and what in your experience is
the 'cause' of this happening? Thanking you in advance
John Cumbo (prosthetist orthotist)
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John:

I'm not of the opinion that the clothing causes the drop locks to
disengage. I'm more of the opinion that clothing may
prevent them from completely engaging, thereby allowing them to be
jarred open during ambulation.

Along that same train of thought, the patient might possibly not fully
engage the locks, with the same result.

Good Luck

Jim Fenton, CPO, LPO

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Hi John !!!

Never heard of this happening myself although I remember some lever
locks getting caught in
trousers (jeans) once or twice and not engaging properly.
Darren J Hughes

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John,

This is a regular problem if you do not use spring assists on the drop
locks
to keep them engaged. I rarely use drop locks - I prefer the bale style

lock which I feel is a much safer and a more positive locking mechanism.

Regards

Noel Mitchell
NVOPS

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Hi John

I don't regularly have this happen but that may because of an alteration
I
do to the drop lock joints. I drill a hole just above where the drop
lock
proximal edge is and sink a steel ball bearing into the hole with a
small
spring beneath it. The spring is similar in strength to the type found
in a
pen only shorter. Then I peen the ball down a bit so that it doesn't
come
out of the whole. Once this is done the drop lock will stay down or up
depending on how the client wants the knee to operate. You have to
experiment a bit to get the right depth of hole, length of spring and
diameter of ball bearing depending upon the joint you're using. This
method
works really well though particularly when the client wants the joint to

remain unlocked when standing momentarily.

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Is the clothing tight fitting?? If not the only reasonable explanation
is
that the drop locks might have a sharp edge to them that may be snagging
on
the cloths. Also, ask the patient if this happens with only certain
cloths.
If this is the case, they may have to just not wear that material. Good

luck!
  SSgt Matthew T. Hummel

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Yes, when the drop locks slip too freely, and the patient is wearing
tightly fitting jeans. I have seen the locks be made to slip
too loosely when the knee joint has been ground down a little too much
in an attempt to clean up a manufacturing defect. I
have had knee joints that weren't quite finished well enough to allow
smooth operation of the drop locks and we've had to tune
them up a little.

But alas, after all that you'll probably say, That's very nice to know,
but wasn't the issue anyway. At least this information is
free!

Andy Wolfe, CO

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John,

Thats why ball catches were invented to prevent unwanted proximal and
distal
drop lock migration. If a ball catch isn't enough use a spring pull
both
items are available from Becker.

Kim L. Ruhl CPO


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Hey John,
I have had one or two people claim this to happen. Can not see any
reason
that is does. Good luck.
DM


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Dear John

I have solved this problem by replacing drop lock to swiss lock,,and now
my patients are quite satisfied.

Second option for drop lock is,,u can give ur patient an elastic tubular
cloth covering at the lock area.it also works very
well.

best regards

Saeed (Cpo)

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John Cumbo

Prosthetist / Orthotist