Socket modification for lanyard systems

William Lifford

Description

Title:

Socket modification for lanyard systems

Creator:

William Lifford

Date:

9/13/2003

Text:

Hello everyone,

Our facility recently started using the OWW Alpha Locking Lanyard for some difficult patients that weren't having great results with AK suction sockets for various reasons (weight fluctuations, improper donning, etc.), but we have noticed that upon unweighting the prosthesis going into swing phase, the residual limb often distends due to the distal attachment point. I imagine the same thing would happen quite a bit with AK pin suspension systems; however I haven't done too many of those and am not tremendously familiar with them.

My question is: For those of who who have used this system before, what is the best method for accomodating this distension? Do you cast the patient while standing with a weight attached to the distal umbrella of the liner? Or do you lengthen the cast by a certain amount after the fact? It seems like pre-distension of the patient's limb while casting would be the only way to have the socket fit in such a way that the distal umbrella would reach the bottom of the socket while preventing any loss of suspension due to tissue distension.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!

Bill Lifford, C.P.

                          

Citation

William Lifford, “Socket modification for lanyard systems,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 26, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/221813.