responses - chlorine and sleeves

responses - chlorine and sleeves

Mary Catherine Thiessen

8/15/2006

I asked the list for a good BK suspension sleeve that will stand up in
chlorine. The consensus seems to be silicone based rather than neoprene.
Thanks to everyone who responded.

Mary Catherine.




I suspect anything silicone based will be OK. Chlorine
tends to tear through anything fabric based (nylon, lycra,
etc.). It can also be pretty distructive to neoprene. She
might be able to extend the life a little be rinsing the
sleeves out in fresh water after each use.



I would contact OWW, Alps Ossur and explain your problem. That way, if you
have any problems it may remain under warantee. By the way, Neoprene is used
in scuba suits, and some sleeves are made out of neoprene. Hope that helps.


Try the ALPS Clearline, or Clearline Reinforced suspension sleeves. Very
effective in the water, and should stand up well to the chlorine.


You may want to contact Jim Smith Sales, they have a
Lycra-Spandex sleeve
that works quite well for medium active patients. I would
imagine it would
hold up well in a pool environment. Hope this helps


Any of the suspension sleeves will deteriorate in chlorine as well as salt
water. I've found that the silicone sleeves by ALPS, RAMPO or the TEC
urethane sleeves last the longest.


Please post responses as we have same request. If you can retro
fit her
socket with expulsion valve my limited experience is Bock's
urethane sleeve
(big $$) or Alps uncovered version of Easy Sleeve (less $$)
are most
suitable for swimmers. But again, these sleeves must be used
with suction.


Latex and Chlorine do not go well together. Silicone works just fine. I
use an Iceflex sleeve (ossur) on my swimming leg, and have also used an Alps
sleeve with the fabric on it, and it has also held up really well. I use it
in pools, as well as the salt water at the beach. I have never had it tear
up or show any signs of breakdown.


A really cheap solution is using a tire innertube for a motorcycle for a
sleeve. It is something that the patient will have to go and buy a few
different sizes to see what fits just right, that is what a few patients do
in the Dominican Republic that I have seen. The neoprene sleeves are hard
to get there (meaning hard to ship, get through customs, etc) and also, with
the exchange rate (about 50:1 now) and the fact that most dominicans are
very poor, especially if you are missing a limb and cannot work, they cannot
afford a cheap neoprene sleeve. But, there are motorscooters everywhere,
with the gomeros (tire repair shacks) on every corner with tons of old,
blown out tubes. The amputees get a tube, cut out about an 18 long piece
of one, and wear it on the prosthesis for suspension. It works great, and
lasts longer than the fancy silicone sleeves we use here in the US. Just a
thought for you to mention to the patient if cost is a big issue.


i have at one time taken wet suit material (taken from a scrap spring suit)
and stitched a custom knee sleeve. seal the seam with shoe goo or other
type adhesive (preferably silicone based, in case of the need for an
airtight seal). Another alternative is taken remnants of a cut liner and
using the proximal section as a semi-sleeve.


Try an ALPS SLE suspension sleeve, conforms well easy to put on,
no
cloth on the outside


I am an avid swimmer and found that silicone bathing caps last
way longer
and are more comfortable than the latex ones. Unfortunately I
don't know of
any silicone suspension sleeves. Perhaps and old silicone liner(
Iceross or
the like) with the bottom cut off might work.


I also have a swim leg. I have used the same neoprene Durasleeve
for about
three summers now. I swim about once a week for an hour or so. I
don't do
anything special to keep it clean other than making sure the
sleeve dries
thoroughly before wearing it again. Some of the big O & P
suppliers carry
them. I hope you find this information helpful.

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