Query: Feet for bilateral transfemoral presentation

Query: Feet for bilateral transfemoral presentation

Harry Phillips

11/29/2011

To the List,

                I have been working with a woman who is 16 years post
bilateral transfemoral amputation secondary to MVA. She presents with a
left KD and a right transfemoral amputation just above the femoral
condyles. She is highly motivated and has recently (intentionally) lost
an impressive amount weight (approximately 50 lbs to bring her to about
160 lbs) and actually worked out rather significant hip flexion
contractures (a rarity in my experience). At this point she is wearing
her stubbie prostheses all day long. She has done quite well on KISS
Trainers (although she has worn out 2 sets in the last 18 months). She
would like to try real (i.e. anthropomorphic) feet so that she can go
back to wearing shoes. I am interested in input from the list as to the
most appropriate feet for this level of presentation.

 

My inclination is to go with feet that have firm heels (to ease the
transition from the posteriorly oriented Trainers) but beyond that, I am
open to any and all suggestions. In the future, it is likely that this
individual would like to at least explore the possibility of being
taller and, perhaps, incorporate active knees into her prostheses (her
present prostheses have locking knees that allow her to easily get
behind the wheel of a car but which she does not use actively).

 

Thanks in advance for your advice-I will post a digest in a week or so.

 

Harry Phillips, CPO

Triangle Orthopaedic Associates, P.A.

Orthotics and Prosthetics Department

120 William Penn Plaza

Durham, NC 27704

(919) 281-1814

Fax: (919) 281-1877

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