Fabrication AFO's
Skewes, Ed
Description
Collection
Title:
Fabrication AFO's
Creator:
Skewes, Ed
Date:
5/9/2007
Text:
Good Morning,
In an attempt to reinforce a child's thermoplastic AFO we occasionally add a ½ posterior copolymer strip. This is accomplished by cutting the ½ wide copolymer strut to the desired length and bevel its edges. The strut length starts just above the apex of the heel and ends at the proximal calf. This strut is placed on the tray in the oven and then the cut sheet of plastic for the AFO is placed on top of the strut and they are heated together until clear, and then vacuum formed onto the plaster model.
Most often the transition between the strut and plastic is correct, however sometimes we have separation between the strut and the plastic AFO. We believe this may occur because the plaster model is much cooler than the thermoplastic (390 degrees F)
We recently placed one of the plaster molds in a convection oven at 150 degrees just prior to vacuum forming and had excellent results.
We would appreciate your thoughts regarding alternative methods to warm an AFO cast prior to fabricating a thermoplastic AFO to decrease the temperature difference between the AFO plaster mold and the heated thermoplastic.
Sincerely,
Ed Skewes CPO
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail communication and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information for the use of the designated recipients. If you are not the intended recipient, (or authorized to receive for the recipient) you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of it or its contents is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please destroy all copies of this communication and any attachments and contact the sender by reply e-mail or telephone (813) 281-0300.
In an attempt to reinforce a child's thermoplastic AFO we occasionally add a ½ posterior copolymer strip. This is accomplished by cutting the ½ wide copolymer strut to the desired length and bevel its edges. The strut length starts just above the apex of the heel and ends at the proximal calf. This strut is placed on the tray in the oven and then the cut sheet of plastic for the AFO is placed on top of the strut and they are heated together until clear, and then vacuum formed onto the plaster model.
Most often the transition between the strut and plastic is correct, however sometimes we have separation between the strut and the plastic AFO. We believe this may occur because the plaster model is much cooler than the thermoplastic (390 degrees F)
We recently placed one of the plaster molds in a convection oven at 150 degrees just prior to vacuum forming and had excellent results.
We would appreciate your thoughts regarding alternative methods to warm an AFO cast prior to fabricating a thermoplastic AFO to decrease the temperature difference between the AFO plaster mold and the heated thermoplastic.
Sincerely,
Ed Skewes CPO
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail communication and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information for the use of the designated recipients. If you are not the intended recipient, (or authorized to receive for the recipient) you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of it or its contents is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please destroy all copies of this communication and any attachments and contact the sender by reply e-mail or telephone (813) 281-0300.
Citation
Skewes, Ed, “Fabrication AFO's,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 24, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/228204.
