The Knee-ds of the K2 Transfemoral Amputee By Phil Stevens, MEd, CPO, FAAOP (Content provided by The O&P EDGE).
As part of a recent joint educational effort by the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), a few colleagues and I were asked to address our processes and preferences in recommending the most appropriate prosthetic knee options for geriatric individuals with K2-level transfemoral amputations. As part of our presentation, my colleagues and I were asked to reference the published literature relative to this clinical question. In preparing that material, several key questions emerged: Are microprocessor-controlled knees (MPKs) appropriate? Can they facilitate a transition to a K3 functional level? Should the consistency and simplicity of a locking knee be considered? Not only does the current body of published evidence provide insight into these important questions, it also does a great deal to inform the prosthetic knee decision-making process.