REPLIES to Lightweight KAFO Inquiry
Doug Richardson
Description
Collection
Title:
REPLIES to Lightweight KAFO Inquiry
Creator:
Doug Richardson
Date:
9/2/2004
Text:
Thank you again to all who responded. I received these replies:
1. Townsend also makes a beautiful and lightweight KAFO. In our lab
we make them out of prepreg carbon.
2. I recently had a pair of carbon fiber kafo's fabricated for a
patient who has been wearing metal systems for 20 + years. The Shadow
is what it is called from Becker in Oregon. This is a type of the
Oregon system. They start with a uvex check kafo. Once this works as
far as trim lines and control are concerned they fab this out of carbon
fiber materials. So far so good. Just be prepared to wait since the
fab time is longer that we are used to, also considering the check
orthosis.
3. I've used Townsend custom KAFOs a few times. They are about as
light as you can get and still be extremely stiff. I had one pt.
(bilateral recurvatum from transverse mylelitis paraplegia) she used her
wheelchair most of the time and didn't want to be sitting on a rigid
posterior shell/band. I had her KAFOs were made with a proximal anterior
thigh band, posterior distal thigh band and posterior calf band. I
believe this to be the best configuration to control recurvatum, but
they will put any of the three bands anterior or posterior. They have
several options for knee and ankle joint function. They do nice work.
There is also a company called flextech (whom I think was purchased by
DeRoyal) that primarily markets their KOs but I know that they make AFOs
and KAFOs. They are also lightweight and very rigid. They will use any
joint you want--I sent them Becker Trick Knee joints once for a KO--they
do very nice work. Speak to Loren. Hope this helps.
4. I have had several polio clients asking for the newest
materials. Short version of the story, each one ended up in exactly
what they used to have. When you have someone that has worn and become
dependent on their orthosis, they just will not accept anything
different. They always want the new orthosis to feel just like the old
one. Polio people are VERY sensitive and can feel every little thing.
Every one of those people assured me they wanted to have and would
accept the different orthosis, and every one kept returning for
adjustments until they were right back in the original type orthosis.
Every single one.My suggestion, make her one EXACTLY like the one she
has. It will save you and her a lot of time and hassle.Good luck.
5. Townsend Design makes a graphite (pre-preg) KAFO now with the
joints you need. They are more rigid than the DAW and don't allow as
much coronal plane motion under torsional loads.
-Doug Richardson, CO
Mary Free Bed Orthotics, Grand Rapids, MI
-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Richardson
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2004 12:21 PM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: Lightweight KAFO Inquiry
What would be your choice of source for ultralight KAFO for a lady with
post-polio weakness? I want to get her out of her aluminum and leather
system. Knee joints are free motion (has relied on recurvatum for
stability all her life) and ankle joints are dorsi assist. I am
considering a DAW Graphlite KAFO, as I have had good success with these
in the past.
Thank you
-Doug Richardson, CO
Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics
Grand Rapids, MI
1. Townsend also makes a beautiful and lightweight KAFO. In our lab
we make them out of prepreg carbon.
2. I recently had a pair of carbon fiber kafo's fabricated for a
patient who has been wearing metal systems for 20 + years. The Shadow
is what it is called from Becker in Oregon. This is a type of the
Oregon system. They start with a uvex check kafo. Once this works as
far as trim lines and control are concerned they fab this out of carbon
fiber materials. So far so good. Just be prepared to wait since the
fab time is longer that we are used to, also considering the check
orthosis.
3. I've used Townsend custom KAFOs a few times. They are about as
light as you can get and still be extremely stiff. I had one pt.
(bilateral recurvatum from transverse mylelitis paraplegia) she used her
wheelchair most of the time and didn't want to be sitting on a rigid
posterior shell/band. I had her KAFOs were made with a proximal anterior
thigh band, posterior distal thigh band and posterior calf band. I
believe this to be the best configuration to control recurvatum, but
they will put any of the three bands anterior or posterior. They have
several options for knee and ankle joint function. They do nice work.
There is also a company called flextech (whom I think was purchased by
DeRoyal) that primarily markets their KOs but I know that they make AFOs
and KAFOs. They are also lightweight and very rigid. They will use any
joint you want--I sent them Becker Trick Knee joints once for a KO--they
do very nice work. Speak to Loren. Hope this helps.
4. I have had several polio clients asking for the newest
materials. Short version of the story, each one ended up in exactly
what they used to have. When you have someone that has worn and become
dependent on their orthosis, they just will not accept anything
different. They always want the new orthosis to feel just like the old
one. Polio people are VERY sensitive and can feel every little thing.
Every one of those people assured me they wanted to have and would
accept the different orthosis, and every one kept returning for
adjustments until they were right back in the original type orthosis.
Every single one.My suggestion, make her one EXACTLY like the one she
has. It will save you and her a lot of time and hassle.Good luck.
5. Townsend Design makes a graphite (pre-preg) KAFO now with the
joints you need. They are more rigid than the DAW and don't allow as
much coronal plane motion under torsional loads.
-Doug Richardson, CO
Mary Free Bed Orthotics, Grand Rapids, MI
-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Richardson
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2004 12:21 PM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: Lightweight KAFO Inquiry
What would be your choice of source for ultralight KAFO for a lady with
post-polio weakness? I want to get her out of her aluminum and leather
system. Knee joints are free motion (has relied on recurvatum for
stability all her life) and ankle joints are dorsi assist. I am
considering a DAW Graphlite KAFO, as I have had good success with these
in the past.
Thank you
-Doug Richardson, CO
Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics
Grand Rapids, MI
Citation
Doug Richardson, “REPLIES to Lightweight KAFO Inquiry,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/223693.
