Polyester resin sockets - Replies
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Title:
Polyester resin sockets - Replies
Text:
Subject: Polyester resin sockets
Does anyone still use polyester resins in the fabrication of prosthetic
sockets. If so what are your reason(s) for still using polyester?
Is L5629 Below knee acrylic socket and L5631 Ak/knee disartic acrylic socket
the industry standard for socket fabrication today?
__________________________________________
I wish to thank everyone that replied to my questions and following is a synopsis of the replies and my conclusions.
Al Pike, CP
********
We almost always use either acrylic or a modified epoxy acrylic. However,
when we are providing a free limb to an underfunded patient, we will use
polyester. It is a financial decision mostly.
*********
My off-the-record take on this is that L5629 and L5631 have become industry
standard because you can get paid for them. You make plenty of extra profit
from these numbers, no? So why not use them - they are lighter and stronger
and so isn't that better for everybody?
But is it NECESSARY for the majority of our amputees who will
not load the prosthesis significantly? Does EVERY elderly amputee need the
very lightest limb possible? Regardless of expense?
*********
When I was in the responsible to make the maximum number of prostheses (for
a population that was on average pretty active) on a fixed budget, I used
polyester and had no problems. Here in the States, it was clear that my
bread was buttered on the acrylic side, and management sure encouraged as
much butter as possible!
This brings up the whole issue of whether we make our clinical decisions
strictly on the basis of the patient's need, or whether our economic stake in
the game plays a role. It is an issue which has never - and will never -
leave our industry.
*******
We use Polyester only occasionally. The only reason is that Medicare will not
pay for acrylic on a preparatory prosthesis in our DMERC.
******
Sure we use polyester resins, for temp lamination, and dynamic test sockets.
Who would not?
*******
Yes my friend... in the 98 % of the 3th world institutions !
The reazon? Easy! $
************
Polypro is the material of choice for me. Ease of fabrication, cost, no
smell, ease of adjustment are the contributing factors.
********
Our use of polyester resins is limited to diagnostic/interim fitting
procedures only. All definitive systems are constructed with acryic or
modified resins.
*******
We do. The reasons are as you might expect: Cost and availability.
Cost because of the increases in the exchange rate which do not favor a
small country thus the increased cost of product & freight.
Availability. We're situated in one of the furthest corners of the world,
and it sometimes takes far too long to obtain acrylic resin from overseas
suppliers, whereas polyester is always locally available.
NB: New blends of resin today make the differences between poly & acrylic
much less pronounced than they used to be.
********
I used to work at a practice that only used 4110. The epoxy resins are
better than the acrylic and 4110. However, the place that I work at now only
uses thermoplastics.
They are cheaper and healthier to work with. The main plastic used is
copolymer.
******
We still sell a fair amount of polyester resin, although much less than we
used to of course compared to the alternatives. I believe mostly used for
preps.
*********
Polypro is the material of choice for me. Ease of fabrication, cost, no
smell, ease of adjustment are the contributing factors.
******
Yes acrylic is the standard. And the add on is justified because it is
more expensive, and the laminating with synthetic materials just about does
not work with anything that is thicker.
*********
We pretty much use acrylic resin exclusively in our lab. It just seems that
for strength and weight purposes it works well for what we do. We also almost
always have some type of carbon in our sockets, be it braid or 2 tape. I
don't believe that polyester and carbon are compatible???
I know that when I went to a presentation at Hosmer, their Central Fab
manager was very adamant about using polyester resin in his upper extremity
prosthetics. And I believe also in his lower extremity.
______________________________________________
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Acrylic laminations are a standard in the United States, but not the rest of the world.
2. A primary reason they are a standard in the United States is reimbursement.
3. A better understanding of the properties and use of the two reins is needed.
********************
To unsubscribe, send a message to: <Email Address Redacted> with
the words UNSUB OANDP-L in the body of the
message.
If you have a problem unsubscribing,or have other
questions, send e-mail to the moderator
Paul E. Prusakowski,CPO at <Email Address Redacted>
OANDP-L is a forum for the discussion of topics
related to Orthotics and Prosthetics.
Public commercial postings are forbidden. Responses to inquiries
should not be sent to the entire oandp-l list.
Does anyone still use polyester resins in the fabrication of prosthetic
sockets. If so what are your reason(s) for still using polyester?
Is L5629 Below knee acrylic socket and L5631 Ak/knee disartic acrylic socket
the industry standard for socket fabrication today?
__________________________________________
I wish to thank everyone that replied to my questions and following is a synopsis of the replies and my conclusions.
Al Pike, CP
********
We almost always use either acrylic or a modified epoxy acrylic. However,
when we are providing a free limb to an underfunded patient, we will use
polyester. It is a financial decision mostly.
*********
My off-the-record take on this is that L5629 and L5631 have become industry
standard because you can get paid for them. You make plenty of extra profit
from these numbers, no? So why not use them - they are lighter and stronger
and so isn't that better for everybody?
But is it NECESSARY for the majority of our amputees who will
not load the prosthesis significantly? Does EVERY elderly amputee need the
very lightest limb possible? Regardless of expense?
*********
When I was in the responsible to make the maximum number of prostheses (for
a population that was on average pretty active) on a fixed budget, I used
polyester and had no problems. Here in the States, it was clear that my
bread was buttered on the acrylic side, and management sure encouraged as
much butter as possible!
This brings up the whole issue of whether we make our clinical decisions
strictly on the basis of the patient's need, or whether our economic stake in
the game plays a role. It is an issue which has never - and will never -
leave our industry.
*******
We use Polyester only occasionally. The only reason is that Medicare will not
pay for acrylic on a preparatory prosthesis in our DMERC.
******
Sure we use polyester resins, for temp lamination, and dynamic test sockets.
Who would not?
*******
Yes my friend... in the 98 % of the 3th world institutions !
The reazon? Easy! $
************
Polypro is the material of choice for me. Ease of fabrication, cost, no
smell, ease of adjustment are the contributing factors.
********
Our use of polyester resins is limited to diagnostic/interim fitting
procedures only. All definitive systems are constructed with acryic or
modified resins.
*******
We do. The reasons are as you might expect: Cost and availability.
Cost because of the increases in the exchange rate which do not favor a
small country thus the increased cost of product & freight.
Availability. We're situated in one of the furthest corners of the world,
and it sometimes takes far too long to obtain acrylic resin from overseas
suppliers, whereas polyester is always locally available.
NB: New blends of resin today make the differences between poly & acrylic
much less pronounced than they used to be.
********
I used to work at a practice that only used 4110. The epoxy resins are
better than the acrylic and 4110. However, the place that I work at now only
uses thermoplastics.
They are cheaper and healthier to work with. The main plastic used is
copolymer.
******
We still sell a fair amount of polyester resin, although much less than we
used to of course compared to the alternatives. I believe mostly used for
preps.
*********
Polypro is the material of choice for me. Ease of fabrication, cost, no
smell, ease of adjustment are the contributing factors.
******
Yes acrylic is the standard. And the add on is justified because it is
more expensive, and the laminating with synthetic materials just about does
not work with anything that is thicker.
*********
We pretty much use acrylic resin exclusively in our lab. It just seems that
for strength and weight purposes it works well for what we do. We also almost
always have some type of carbon in our sockets, be it braid or 2 tape. I
don't believe that polyester and carbon are compatible???
I know that when I went to a presentation at Hosmer, their Central Fab
manager was very adamant about using polyester resin in his upper extremity
prosthetics. And I believe also in his lower extremity.
______________________________________________
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Acrylic laminations are a standard in the United States, but not the rest of the world.
2. A primary reason they are a standard in the United States is reimbursement.
3. A better understanding of the properties and use of the two reins is needed.
********************
To unsubscribe, send a message to: <Email Address Redacted> with
the words UNSUB OANDP-L in the body of the
message.
If you have a problem unsubscribing,or have other
questions, send e-mail to the moderator
Paul E. Prusakowski,CPO at <Email Address Redacted>
OANDP-L is a forum for the discussion of topics
related to Orthotics and Prosthetics.
Public commercial postings are forbidden. Responses to inquiries
should not be sent to the entire oandp-l list.
Citation
“Polyester resin sockets - Replies,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 6, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/214239.
