Knee-ankle-foot (KAFO) & hip-KAFO (HKAFO) orthoses
Long braces that also control the knee when the quadriceps is weak or the knee is unstable; the HKAFO extends to the pelvis for paraplegia.
Indications
- Weak or paralysed quadriceps
- Unstable knee, hyperextension (genu recurvatum)
- Post-polio, low-level spinal cord injury
- Fractures needing controlled weight-bearing
Key features
- Drop-lock, automatic or stance-control knee joints (SCKAFO)
- Thermoplastic frame or metal-and-leather uprights by load
- Integrated adjustable ankle joints
- HKAFO adds a hip joint and pelvic band
- Weight optimised with aluminium alloy and carbon
When the quadriceps cannot hold the knee, patients lock it by hand or adopt compensations that cause back pain and fatigue. A KAFO transfers knee control to the brace frame.
A simple drop-lock knee is robust and suits limited walking. A stance-control knee is a major step forward: the knee stays stable in stance but releases in swing, giving a near-natural gait at much lower energy cost.
For low-level paraplegia, an HKAFO adds a hip joint and pelvic band to control abduction–adduction and rotation, used with crutches or a walker.
We weigh stability against weight carefully: the more a frame controls, the heavier it is, so the choice must track each person's real mobility goals.
Related solutions
AFO Ankle-foot orthosis (AFO)
Braces that control foot drop, ankle instability and spasticity — from a light posterior-leaf design to articulated and ground-reaction types.
Ankle-foot orthosis (AFO)
TLSO 3D corrective spinal orthosis (scoliosis)
A brace designed on a three-plane correction principle, 3D-scanned and CAD/CAM-milled, with up to 83% correction when detected early.
3D corrective spinal orthosis (scoliosis)Do you or a loved one need advice?
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