KAFO
Pronunciation: KAY-foh
Also written as: KAFO — Knee–Ankle–Foot Orthosis
A lower-limb orthosis that encompasses the knee, ankle, and foot to provide structural support, control alignment, and enable standing or ambulation in individuals with significant lower-extremity weakness or instability.
Full Definition
A knee–ankle–foot orthosis (KAFO) extends from the thigh to the foot and incorporates joint mechanisms at both the knee and ankle. It is prescribed when an ankle–foot orthosis alone is insufficient to stabilise the limb, such as in polio sequelae, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury. Editors should hyphenate the full form (knee–ankle–foot orthosis) using en dashes between anatomical levels, following standard orthotics nomenclature. The acronym KAFO is written in full capitals with no periods.
Usage
Usage note: Use en dashes (not hyphens) between anatomical levels in the full form: knee–ankle–foot orthosis. Distinguish clearly from AFO (ankle–foot orthosis) and HKAFO (hip–knee–ankle–foot orthosis) in clinical documents.
In Context
- "The physiatrist recommended a carbon-fibre KAFO with a stance-control knee joint to improve the patient's community ambulation." — Rehabilitation prescription
- "Copyeditors should verify that KAFO is expanded as 'knee–ankle–foot orthosis' (with en dashes) on first mention in all clinical reports." — Editorial style guide