Water leg component recommendations
Walter P Afable
Description
Collection
Title:
Water leg component recommendations
Creator:
Walter P Afable
Date:
3/17/2004
Text:
Greetings,
I am working with a below-knee amputee that would like to pursue a new prosthesis made specifically for use in the water. He is not involved in water sports of any kind--he just wants to be able to wade in the water or in the pool with his young son, low impact. He currently wears a Comfort liner with pin locking suspension and I'd like to do something similar since he's getting good results with that set up.
Currently, I'm toying around with the idea of using a gel liner, (either urethane or silicone) without a fabric cover suspended with a locking mechanism with non-corrosive materials, (Fillauer, Coyote). A sealing sleeve will be used proximally to block most of the water from entering from the proximal socket trim line.
I'm looking for advice from prosthetists who've achieved success with similar, BK water legs. Are there good sleeves on the market for this purpose? What locks work best in the water? Should we avoid locks altogether? Is there a skin that is recommended for use underwater? Wet suits? Exo vs. Endoskeletal designs? Foot selection? Success with Endolite's shower leg? etc, etc, etc. Keep in mind that we'd like to keep costs down--the patient may be paying out of pocket--so Harmony would be a great solution, but not practical for us at this time.
Your responses are greatly appreciated. Patient is going on vacation at the end of April and would like to try to have it made by then. I will collect and post results.
Thank you,
Walter P Afable CP RFO
<Email Address Redacted>
I am working with a below-knee amputee that would like to pursue a new prosthesis made specifically for use in the water. He is not involved in water sports of any kind--he just wants to be able to wade in the water or in the pool with his young son, low impact. He currently wears a Comfort liner with pin locking suspension and I'd like to do something similar since he's getting good results with that set up.
Currently, I'm toying around with the idea of using a gel liner, (either urethane or silicone) without a fabric cover suspended with a locking mechanism with non-corrosive materials, (Fillauer, Coyote). A sealing sleeve will be used proximally to block most of the water from entering from the proximal socket trim line.
I'm looking for advice from prosthetists who've achieved success with similar, BK water legs. Are there good sleeves on the market for this purpose? What locks work best in the water? Should we avoid locks altogether? Is there a skin that is recommended for use underwater? Wet suits? Exo vs. Endoskeletal designs? Foot selection? Success with Endolite's shower leg? etc, etc, etc. Keep in mind that we'd like to keep costs down--the patient may be paying out of pocket--so Harmony would be a great solution, but not practical for us at this time.
Your responses are greatly appreciated. Patient is going on vacation at the end of April and would like to try to have it made by then. I will collect and post results.
Thank you,
Walter P Afable CP RFO
<Email Address Redacted>
Citation
Walter P Afable, “Water leg component recommendations,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 1, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/222856.
