Chinese economy components
A large share of the low priced knees, feet and adapters sold in Pakistan are made in China. That tells you almost nothing, because the label covers everything from well run factories that test to international standards, to anonymous copies of European parts with no testing at all.
Are Chinese prosthetic parts safe?
Some are and some are not. China has established manufacturers that test components to the international structural standard for prostheses and supply documents, and it also produces untested copies of well known designs. The country of origin does not tell you which you have. The documents, the weight rating marked on the part and the supplier's willingness to be named on the quotation do.
Who they are
Documented makers
Factories with a name, a catalogue, test certificates to the international structural standard, weight ratings marked on each part, and a supplier who will put all of this in writing.
Unbranded copies
Parts that imitate the look of a European knee or adapter, carry no maker's name or rating, and come with no paperwork. The metal, the heat treatment and the threads are unknown.
Used and refurbished parts
Second hand premium parts, sometimes repainted, sold as new. They may work. You should know what you are buying, and pay accordingly.
How to tell them apart
| Check | A sound part | A part to refuse |
|---|---|---|
| Maker's name and model | Marked on the part and on the quotation | Nothing, or a famous name spelt oddly |
| Weight rating | Stamped or labelled on the part | Absent |
| Test documents | Available on request | Refused, or vague |
| Packaging | Sealed, with a label and batch number | Loose, in a plain bag |
| Price | Low, and in line with other quotes for the same tier | Far below everyone else |
| Supplier's stance | Happy to be named and to give warranty terms | Reluctant to write anything down |
Where they fit, and where they do not
Economy parts are reasonable for
- a first or temporary leg that will be replaced within a year
- light users who walk indoors
- a spare or water leg
- non structural items such as covers, stockings and straps
Do not economise on
- adapters and pylons, which carry the whole body weight and whose failure means a fall
- the knee of an active or heavy user
- any part without a marked weight rating
- anything offered without a name or documents
Why the adapter matters more than the badge
The most dangerous failure in a leg is not a worn foot or a noisy knee. It is a small aluminium adapter, between the socket and the pylon, cracking across the thread. When it goes, the leg separates and the user falls without warning.
These are exactly the parts that are copied most cheaply, because they look simple. We use only adapters that carry a maker's name and a weight rating, from any country, and we would urge you to insist on the same wherever you are fitted.
An economy foot or a basic locking knee from a documented factory is a fair way to reduce cost. An anonymous structural part is not.
Imported and fitted to order
Artificial Leg Karachi imports and fits components from these makers to order. We are independent of every manufacturer, recommend by need and budget, and earn nothing from steering you to one name over another. Ranges change, so we confirm the current model, its weight rating and the paperwork before anything is ordered. All maker and product names are trade marks of their owners and are used here only to describe the products.
Why are Chinese prosthetic parts so much cheaper?
Lower manufacturing costs, simpler designs, little spent on research, and in the case of copies, no testing at all. The first three are fair savings. The last is a risk passed to the user.
Can a cheap prosthetic knee be dangerous?
Yes, if its stance stability is poor or its material fails. For a light indoor walker on a documented locking knee the risk is small. For an active or heavy user it is not worth taking.
How do I check the weight rating of a prosthetic part?
It should be stamped or labelled on the component and stated in the maker's document, as a maximum body weight in kilograms. Add anything heavy the person carries at work.
Do you fit Chinese components?
We fit documented, rated parts from whichever country suits the budget, and we write the maker and model on the quotation. We do not fit unmarked structural parts.
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