carbon fiber floor reaction AFOs - summary of responses

carbon fiber floor reaction AFOs - summary of responses

Leigh Davis

3/15/2017

Hello! Thank you all for your thoughtful responses! You all gave me a lot
to think about!

As one respondent said, I really think that these kids need dynamic
response orthoses. We wouldn't put active amputees in stiffer and stiffer
SACH feet, so why do we attempt a similar approach to our orthotic
clients?? Such a good point. Perhaps the posterior dynamic element
designs are the answer.

For this patient, I did move forward with a super rigid design from Kinetic
Research. 3 weeks in and so far so good - we'll see how it goes.

Here is a list of all the responses:

Specific designs and c-fab recommendations. Number of recommendations in
parentheses:

   - Kinetic Research (11)


   - Phat (6)


   - Custom Composites (6)


   - Motion Unlimited (4)


   - Otto Bock Carbon ankle 7 (4)


   - Fab Tech (3)


   - Freedom Fabrication (3)


   - PolyPro Texas Turbos (2)


   - Dynamic Bracing Solutions


   - Ortho Baltic


   - Coyote Dynamic strut braces


   - Jim Skardutos C-fab


   - BPM Fabrication


   - Custom toe off/blue rocker


   - Shadow Brace by Becker


Other recommendations:

   - Articulated with Becker joints and fabricated by Motion Unlimited


   - If you're not making it out of prepreg carbon stop while you're
   ahead. If so run a flat foot plate from mid foot forward with a minimum of
   3 layers 2 bi and 1 uni sandwiched between increase # of uniti increase
   stillness build in toe spring to reduce volume in shoe.


   - Consider increasing/extending the A-P length around ankle/failure
   points: these contours often do not need to follow patient's anatomy.
   Extend these as far anterior and/or posterior as footwear permits.


   - consider using pre preg composites to manufacture your AFO's, not
   lamination. You get a much strong, lighter and thinner result


   - Curbell Plastics


   - Talk to the makers of Rush Feet


   - Reinforce with Ultra g brace (carbon only)


   - 1/4 ProComp carbon infused polypropylene

Again, thank you so much! Looking forward to continuing the conversation,

Leigh Davis



> -----Original Message-----
> >From: Leigh Davis < <Email Address Redacted> >
> >Sent: Jan 24, 2017 2:45 PM
> >To: <Email Address Redacted>
> >Subject: [OANDP-L] carbon fiber floor reaction AFOs
> >
> >Hello!
> >I am in the middle of a project making floor reaction AFOs for an active
> 13
> >year old male with Spina Bifida. He has been wearing floor reactions for
> >many years, and has broken an impressive number of them. Now that he's
> 110
> >lbs and 52, I'm trying to switch him to a carbon fiber construction.
> >We made him a set here that he walked great in, but he broke them at the
> >ankle, forefoot (even though the forefoot is sulcus length) and at the
> heel
> >within 1 week.
> >
> >I still feel this is the right design for him, but I'm looking for some
> >advice with either of the following:
> >
> > - What lay up do you recommend if we were to try again at our in house
> > lab?
> > - Is there a central fab you've had success with for laminated floor
> > reaction AFOs?
> >
> >
> >Thank you for your time and assistance!
> >
> >Leigh Davis, CPO
> >
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should not be sent to the entire oandp-l list. Professional credentials
or affiliations should be used in all communications.