An advanced course on the Otto Bock C-Leg and microprocessor technology was held in Edmonton on October 27 and 28. Dr. James W. Breakey, CP, BPT, MSc, MS, PhD, was the guest lecturer. With his broad education and vast clinical experience, Dr. Breakey stated the truth about the C-Leg and microprocessor technology-they belong in a category of their own. Their function simply cannot be compared fairly with any other knee unit known to the field of prosthetics.

Let me dispel some of the myths about the C-Leg, as well as call your attention to some of its merits:

1. The C-Leg is not the Cadillac---the Cadillac was the human knee that was lost in amputation. The C-Leg is a tool available to assist in replacing the biomechanics formerly provided by the normal leg.



2. The C-Leg is not "new" technology. It is six years old, with over 11,000 units being worn worldwide. The number worn rises daily.



3. The C-Leg is an excellent choice for unilateral and bilateral above-knee amputees.
   
   
4. The amount of documentation and scrutiny which the C-Leg has received, and continues to receive, is unprecedented.



5. Otto Bock Health Care provides a five-year, full warranty on the C-Leg system. The majority of knee manufacturers offer a one- to two-year warranty at most. With each servicing the C-Leg becomes virtually a new unit.



6. The C-Leg is superbly engineered. For instance, the molecules of the lubricant in the knee hydraulics are larger than the seal tolerances. Therefore, the hydraulic fluid does not leak. The amputee can be certain that with each and every step, he will get the exact load response. If the system is going to fail, which it rarely will, it will sound a warning. The amputee will be saved from harm.



7. The C-Leg is an on-board computer that analyzes load, knee angle and velocity at the rate of 50 times per second! The C-Leg can be TRUSTED.

The bottom line is that, for the majority of above-knee and beyond the hip amputees, the C-Leg should be one of the first choices. Wearing the C-Leg eliminates functional failure (falls). It helps to avoid early degeneration of the contra lateral hip, pelvis, low back, and (according to Dr. Breakey) even avoid headaches. When the amputee is able to trust the micro-processor knee as he would his own-that is, able to move forward or back without having to pay more than reasonable attention to the placement of each step on the prosthetic side-it stands to reason that his posture will improve.

I encourage AASRA members to advocate to have this form of technology funded, in addition to, not in substitution of, what is already available.