Summary of Responses to Symbionic Inquiry
Jonathan Reynik
Description
Collection
Title:
Summary of Responses to Symbionic Inquiry
Creator:
Jonathan Reynik
Date:
4/19/2013
Text:
Original Post: Last week I submitted a request for information about your experiences with the Ossur Symbionic Leg. Thus far I have only received 3 requests for posting the information. I will gladly post any received responses. Perhaps it would help for you to know that the patient asked me to write to you. He has visited the Ossur website and has watched the videos posted to You Tube. What he is seeking is additional objective opinions from users and Prosthetists very familiar with the system.
Dear ListMembers:
Please find below a summary of the responses I have received. Thank you to all who responded.
*******************
“I have a very bad experience with the proprio foot ankle system … (with) poor help and follow-up from Ossur on several cases.”
“I have only fit one Symbionic prosthesis and it was a complicated patient. He has been an amputee since the 1970's and has walked on hydraulic knees, the C-Leg and most recently a Rheo. Switching to the Symbionic wasn't a big jump for him. While we were getting approval and going through the fitting process the patient was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. His gait/balance/strength/endurance/etc. have been greatly compromised by this disease. My only hope is that once he is put on medication and his symptoms are brought under control the Symbionic will help him remain somewhat active by requiring less energy expenditure from him and a decrease in trips/falls.”
“No feedback on the Symbionic per se, but I have limited experience with Rheo. Had a very high functioning client trial both the C-Leg and Rheo for over one month each. He found the C-Leg was more stupid easy walking all kinds of terrain whereas the Rheo required constant user control to make it work. He likened it to the C-Leg like driving an automatic and the Rheo a manual. Ossur promotes this as a benefit, meaning the user can vary the response of the Rheo depending on how they load the knee. However, it takes constant vigilance on the users part, the learning curve is steep and even then, there are terrain variations that throw you off.”
“I am happy to repost your request to <Email Address Redacted> to
determine if any subscribers have experience with the Ossur...if you
wish?”
“Contact Glenn at Alabama Artificial Limb. He's fit a few.”
“C-Leg all the way, never fit one.”
“xxx is a patient of ours that has his own non-profit, Miracle Limbs. He has been on the Symbionic Leg for several months now and loves it. He would be willing to email or talk to your patient anytime.” Please contact Jillian Hitchcock, CO,LO,LPR for his contact details if interested.
Dear ListMembers:
Please find below a summary of the responses I have received. Thank you to all who responded.
*******************
“I have a very bad experience with the proprio foot ankle system … (with) poor help and follow-up from Ossur on several cases.”
“I have only fit one Symbionic prosthesis and it was a complicated patient. He has been an amputee since the 1970's and has walked on hydraulic knees, the C-Leg and most recently a Rheo. Switching to the Symbionic wasn't a big jump for him. While we were getting approval and going through the fitting process the patient was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. His gait/balance/strength/endurance/etc. have been greatly compromised by this disease. My only hope is that once he is put on medication and his symptoms are brought under control the Symbionic will help him remain somewhat active by requiring less energy expenditure from him and a decrease in trips/falls.”
“No feedback on the Symbionic per se, but I have limited experience with Rheo. Had a very high functioning client trial both the C-Leg and Rheo for over one month each. He found the C-Leg was more stupid easy walking all kinds of terrain whereas the Rheo required constant user control to make it work. He likened it to the C-Leg like driving an automatic and the Rheo a manual. Ossur promotes this as a benefit, meaning the user can vary the response of the Rheo depending on how they load the knee. However, it takes constant vigilance on the users part, the learning curve is steep and even then, there are terrain variations that throw you off.”
“I am happy to repost your request to <Email Address Redacted> to
determine if any subscribers have experience with the Ossur...if you
wish?”
“Contact Glenn at Alabama Artificial Limb. He's fit a few.”
“C-Leg all the way, never fit one.”
“xxx is a patient of ours that has his own non-profit, Miracle Limbs. He has been on the Symbionic Leg for several months now and loves it. He would be willing to email or talk to your patient anytime.” Please contact Jillian Hitchcock, CO,LO,LPR for his contact details if interested.
Citation
Jonathan Reynik, “Summary of Responses to Symbionic Inquiry,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/235044.
