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2017Knee Disarticulation – Prosthetic Pros And Cons
Joint disarticulation at the knee, ankle and hip level ranks with the more controversial practices of amputation and prosthetic management. Knee disarticulation has been an option for more than 180 years and offers many benefits, but because the procedure also elicits assembly and cosmetic challenges, surgeons and patients more often opt for a higher level (and usually less-functional) transfemoral amputation. Thus, knee disarticulations have been...
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27
2017Developing The Prosthetic Prescription
The impressive advances of prosthetic materials and designs in recent years have significantly changed the way prosthetic limb prescriptions are created. Gone are the days when the construction of a new prosthesis was primarily determined by the amputation level. With today’s medical-surgical capabilities for extending life, the many componentry options available, and our existing reimbursement climate, it is important that those involved in a new...
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10
2017First Line Of Defense For Diabetic Feet
Diabetes has appropriately been described as a public health problem of epidemic proportions in the United States. More than 25 percent of the estimated 23.6 million people with diabetes in the U.S. will develop significant foot problems. People with diabetes are prone to peripheral neuropathy and may have essentially no sensation in their feet. As a result, tissues already overly susceptible to poor circulation, infection...
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09
2017Vacuum Socket Suspension Comes Of Age For Prosthetic Patients
Nothing is more important to an amputee wearing a prosthetic leg than keeping the prosthesis firmly anchored to the residual limb. The more the residuum moves around inside the socket, the less effective the ambulation, the greater the stress on limb tissues, and the higher the chance the limb will come off entirely, often precipitating a fall. With conventional suspension methods (atmospheric suction, pin, anatomic,...
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28
2017New Options For Treating Cerebral Palsy Spasticity
For nearly two decades, Ultraflex custom orthoses have provided the rehabilitation community with conservative management options for severe neuromuscular and/or orthopedic dysfunction. Recently, the company introduced two new joint mobilization systems for managing cerebral palsy-induced spasticity. The HOPe1 (Hip Orthosis, Pediatric) is a variation of the traditional A-Frame brace incorporating an Ultraflex joint mounted to solid knee orthoses or knee-ankle-foot orthoses at mid-calf with swivel...
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