Malunion typically occurs when a bone heals without appropriate medical attention, leading to poor alignment and deformity in the affected area of the body. Common in the lower extremities, the complication is the consequence of having bones improperly aligned when immobilized. This can be a major setback for a patient rehabilitating from an impairment or deformity, especially when surgery becomes the only viable option to truly correcting the issue. The days and weeks following can be grueling for an individual, with a new rehabilitation regimen and recovery process in place to essentially start all over and get back to where they need to be.  

So then, how do you as a medical professional assure patients a successful rehabilitation without complications developing? Lower extremity orthoses present a noninvasive approach to effectively treating an impairment in which ample support and alignment is employed to improving balance and coordination in a patient. With versatility and comfort top of mind, an orthosis features a modern fit, presenting early mobilization and proper anatomical positioning. In other words, a patient wearing an orthosis will experience a close fit for better control of the limb and preventing excess joint movement.  

Introducing Prefabricated Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis (KAFO) 

In the past, the best option to treat lower extremities would involve wearing a custom-made knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) with a locked knee joint. While this provided the fundamental stability and support of the knee to eliminate any chance of an involuntary flexion, it simultaneously caused other associated issues, such as muscle atrophy, increased energy expenditure and other gait deviations.  

The makeup of a prefab KAFO consists of: a modular, posterior single jointed upright with multifunctional capabilities for superior sagittal plane control for the knee and ankle joint. This level of versatility is critical to the successful rehabilitation of a lower extremity abnormality, especially in the early stages of neuro-rehab patient management, where studies have revealed the value of early mobilization and proper anatomical positioning.  

KAFO Provides Unmatched Versatility and Comfort  

No two abnormalities are the same, as you know best, a patients’ needs are constantly changing as time progresses wearing a brace. An orthosis is necessary that’s proactive, not reactionary, in nature and adaptable to their changes whether ambulatory or at rest. Prefab KAFO provides a wide range of combinations for single posterior jointed designs and superior sagittal plane support without the bulkiness of the traditional double upright designs. Unlike the traditional custom made double upright knee ankle foot orthosis where it takes time to put on and take off or where size changes can be an issue or adjustment versatility is limited, the individual ankle-foot and knee sections of the Prefab KAFO can be disconnected quickly and without tools to be used separately if needed. 

While adaptability is the foundation of the prefab KAFO’s architecture, the materials encompassing the orthosis truly are the difference maker. Our orthoses contain no PVC-based plastics, Kydex® or Latex components. PVC can be quite serious when heated for adjustment purposes as other models advocate, as it can promote toxic carcinogens and unnecessary exposure to patients and medical professionals. Our devices do NOT require any heating adjustments. 

Increasing your patient’s chances for successful rehabilitation and return to a sense of normalcy is your ultimate goal, which can be achieved with a prefabricated KAFO.