[Prosthetic treatment of unstable knee joints.]

The authors evaluated the use of knee ortheses provided on account of istability of the knee joint of traumatic and non-traumatic origin at the prosthetic department of the Faculty Hospital in Hradec Králové in 1990-1996. Based on analysis of 3 803 applications of knee ortheses on account of post-traumatic instability of the joint they reached the conclusion that the most frequently required aid is an individual functional and rehabilitation orthesis. They emphasize collaboration of the attending physician with the physician in the prosthetics department. The authors evaluate also the use of 1059 ortheses administered during the same period on account of unstable disaxial joints due to articular disease. Ortheses prove useful where stability was not achieved by surgery. They do not ensure complete stability of the joint, however, they contribute markedly to improved mobility of the patient, to reduction of pain and they reduce also the probability of further damage by improving the stability of the joint. Key words: orthesis of the knee joint, unstable knee joint.