Safety, walking ability, and satisfaction outcomes of the NEURO TRONIC stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis (SCKAFO): A comparative evaluation to the E-MAG active SCKAFO.

Only 9 adults were analysed, so the study was too small to detect real differences in energy cost or knee safety. The study was uncontrolled and participants all switched from their existing E-MAG Active orthosis to a NEURO TRONIC orthosis, so time, learning and fitting effects cannot be separated. Participants were already satisfied E-MAG Active users, so results may not apply to patients unhappy with their current orthosis. The treadmill tests did not produce locking failures, possibly because they were not challenging enough or because users were skilled, so daily-life fall safety remains unclear. Reported falls were self-reported and the study did not record fall circumstances, so the lower falls count cannot be linked to the orthosis. Gait analysis was completed on 8 of 9 subjects. The devices are expensive, so they may not be available everywhere.

Fior & Gentz, the manufacturer of the NEURO TRONIC knee joint, and OIM Orthopedie, which manufactured the study orthoses, funded the work and supplied devices. They had no role in collecting, analysing or interpreting data, but they reviewed the manuscript for proprietary information and discussed how to adapt the publication.

Do not read the lower reported falls (median 0.0 versus 1.0 falls per year) as proof that the NEURO TRONIC orthosis prevents falls. This was a secondary self-report outcome, fall circumstances were not recorded, and perceived effectiveness for number of falls did not differ; the primary knee-safety outcome was null.