Summary responses cosmetic legs

Summary responses cosmetic legs

Braceon CPO

Thanks to all who responded. PVC seems to be highly recommended.

 A patient/client that is a bilateral above knee amputee, (and because of age,
> poor health, and was a non-ambulator as a unilateral amputee) is interested
> in cosmetic prostheses to be worn under clothes while seated.
> Without using the standard endoskeletal components, are there any
> lightweight, inexpensive, plastic pylons or components available?
> Has anyone made strictly non-functional, cosmetic prostheses using pvc
> materials?
> Any ideas for a comfortable socket or (sockets) configuration,...possibly a
> single adjustable socket to envelope 30+ thigh circumferences? Any help is
> greatly appreciated.
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Years ago I made cosmetic prostheses for a similar patient. Used upper limb
endo
components with PVC pipe for length. I purposely did not provide normal
sockets,
rather flexible easily donned sockets. Today I would look at shuttle locks
with
gel liners and no frames. You must give no pretense or possibility of
function.
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Have used PVC. Works great it is easy to work with, light, and inexpensive
but you want to be sure no transfers take place. This happened to an
associate's patient once. Lucky nothing happened.
Good luck
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 have made cosmetic prostheses for bilateral Hip Disartic using PVC. I
riveted harvester webbing between the pieces to form the knee jt. I beleive
this is preffered over rigid and heavy knee units. I would consider using a
roll on suction liner, maybe the alpha or the new Dermo from Ossur, you
shouldn't need much of a socket, and Otto Bock geriatric SACH feet.
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What I've done in the past is simply use a set of Transfemoral preshaped
prosthetic foam covers, feet fitted to the pt's. shoes, some PVC pipe to give
them body (preflexed to the wheel chair height), Shaped and attached to a
permanent cushion in the wheel chair. Cover the prosthetic covers with nylon
stockings. The consumer will general find it works best with loose fitting
skirts that can be placed over the knees when seated. If slacks are desired
just cut off a pair of pants legs and sew in some elastic at the thigh
sections to hold them in place. The client sits in shorts with a blanket or
light cover over the lap to hide the transition. The work is all done by you
but it is really a pretty quick and inexpensive way to provide the kind of
cosmesis your customer is looking for.
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n this case I would suggest you try your creative assets on a sheet of
P.E.-lite(10mm+,HD)Thermoplastic material used for socket lining or
insoles.
You need a vacuum pump ,oven and a finisher.
Cast both legs of a donor in the desired position.
Make positives.Ensure max. detail retained.
Smear with a thin layer of petroleum jelly .
1.CAST THE SOLES ONLY(just past split line)
2.CAST MEDIAL ASPECTS OFB.K.
3 A.K.
4 LATERAL...Until you have solid neg. plaster moulds of all
aspects of the limbs.
5.With all moulds horizontal,drill vacuum holes throuhg the deepest spot of
each valley in the mould.
6.Continue as if forming an insole out of P.E.-lite...cut all the pieces out
and join them together...I would even cast her legs too and make soft
sockets from 5mm HD P.E.-lite and fashion them into the cosmeses.
7.As an optional finish I suggest you use super skin from OTTO BOCK (use
white only mixed with oils from WINSOR & NEWTON until a perfect match is
achieved)-use a brush or small roller not a spray gun...my opinion of cause!
8.The hollows of both limbs can be filled with poly styrene flakes.
SOLUTION:A LOW COST, EASY TO MAKE,HIGHLY COSMETIC PAIR OF PROSTHESIS.
I hope this solves your problem!
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I completed a procedure like this a few years ago. I used PCV pipe and some
simple overlap joints with foam covers.
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Use PVC tubing and a PVC elbow from your local hardware store; with light
weight SACH foot. Any standard cosmetic foam cover can be used for finishing.
The socket was easy for my patient. Make a socket with no proximal design and
the anterior section is completely open. The prosthesis just lays in her
wheel chair. Yes, this is non-ambulatory.

Hope this gives you some idea.
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Even if the person is a non-ambulator, they might choose to use the
prostheses for transfers, and should be capable of weight bearing in any
case.
I don't think a strictly non-functional prosthesis would be covered by
insurance in any case.
Just my thoughts...
As far as cosmetics there are some preformed covers(I don't remember which
company but can find out if you are interested) which function very well
for bilaterals because they are made exactly the same.
Hope this helps..
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 have used standard PVC plumbing components for this task before, quite
successfully attached to a 'soft' adjustable socket made from pelite. Just
be sure that the patient won't be tempted to stand up on it to ambulate.
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