The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) announced the recipients of the 2024 Howard R. Thranhardt Award are Andreas Kannenberg, MD (GER), PhD; Shane Wurdeman, PhD, CP, FAAOP (D); Tyler Klenow, MSPO, MBA, CPO, FAAOP; and Russell Lundstrom, MS. The award, established in 1996 by a gift from J.E. Hanger in memory of Howard R. Thranhardt, CP, has become 1 of the most distinguished honors in the orthotics and prosthetics profession, annually recognizing the strength in clinical research.
The lectures and awards will be given Saturday, September 14 at 8am in conjunction with the 2024 National Assembly in Charlotte, NC.
Kannenberg and Wurdeman will present “Assessing Outcomes with Microprocessor Knee (MPK) Utilization in a K2 Population (ASCENT K2): Findings from a Clinical Trial of 107 Individuals with Above-knee Amputation”. The 2-arm randomized, controlled trial looked at 107 limited community ambulators with AKA (age: 73.7±5.6y). In the trial, 54 participants were assigned to wear an MPK and 53 wore a non-MPK. At 12 months follow-up, individuals with an MPK had on average reduced avoidance behavior from fear of falling, worried less about the consequences of falling, and experienced fewer fall events.
Klenow and Lundstrom will present “Reduction in Falls and Fall-Risk with Increased Walking Speed Found Following 1 Year of C-Brace® Use: Interim Results from the C-Brace® Registry”. A prospective, multicenter registry was designed to gather real-world safety and effectiveness data from patients fit with a C Brace. Fifty-one orthotics and prosthetics clinics from the US and Europe are currently participating, enrolling 91 subjects and 42 subjects respectively and have completed the primary endpoint of 1 year. Use of the C-Brace resulted in improvements in fast walking speed and balance confidence while reducing falls and fall-risk measured by the Timed Up and Go test and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale.
