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Back Knee

Bledsoe Thruster RLF
Bledsoe

Recognised as the most effective OA brace on the market

  • The OA brace is dynamic because there is varus valgus correction in only the last 30° towards the extension. At the same time, no pressure relief in flexion
  • It was found to be the most corrective OA brace by comparison in recent independent JBJS studies – March 2006
  • Varus valgus correction of up to 34° is possible by means of a poly-centric hinge
  • Light aluminium brace
  • Adapts comfortably to the shape of the leg
  • Easy and quick to fit thanks to innovative click closing system
  • High-tech anti-perspiration padding
  • OA progression is slowed down
  • Option : AFO extension is possible

Thruster

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Bledsoe Thruster RLF

Legenda
3 stars Extremely suitable
2 stars Very suitable
1 star Suitable

Indications

  • MCL/LCL pathologies 3
  • Genu recurvatum 3
  • Gonarthritis 3
  • Post menisectomy 3
  • Post-op after cartilage transplant 3
  • Post-op after tibial plateau fracture 3
  • Pre- and post- osteotomy 3

Product operations

What exactly does the Thruster do?

The Thruster is a dynamic gonarthritic brace, in other words, the lower leg will be positioned only to the left or the right during the last phase of stretching the leg. In this way an opening is achieved between the lower leg and the upper leg. When the leg is bent, this is not necessary because then there is no contact between the upper and the lower leg and there can therefore be no pain. If the patient has gonarthritis then he/she has stabbing pain when putting his/her heel on the ground and also when unwinding his/her foot.

Q&A

Where should the hinge be?

Osteo-arthritis: The hinge is always on the side on which the arthritis is, in other words on the side where the compartment requires relief.
For medial arthritis: medial Thruster
For lateral arthritis: lateral Thruster

Osteotomy – meniscus tears – tibial plateau fractures: Hinge is on the side where the operation was done, in other words where the compartments require relief.

Medial and lateral ligament injuries: Here we apply the opposite principle. For an injury to the medial ligament, e.g., we will use a lateral hinge so that the knee is pulled up laterally, the medial ligaments relaxes and rehabilitates quicker.
For medial ligament njury: lateral Thruster
For lateral ligament injury: medial Thruster

Why does a brace have to be able to provide a correction of up to 34° ?

Keeping soft tissue (muscles, tendons and fatty tissue) under control is a difficult factor to keep under control when wearing a brace. To achieve a sound alignment in conjunction with the lower leg we have to provide more correction for larger legs than for slimmer ones. Bledsoe is the answer for almost all types of legs.

What degree of correction is to be set as standard ?

There is only one person who can adjust a gonarthritic brace correctly and that is the patient him/herself. It is the patient him/herself who can experience at which setting the pain disappears. Therefore, it is important to always adjust the hinge with only 2 click settings at a time. The patient can walk for one minute with every adjustment. When the best setting has been found, the hinge may be fastened with a small screw.