Feature
Defying Death Twice: Why Amputees Take Risks
By Judith Philipps Otto
Nobody knows why people take unnecessary risks. Not even the risk-takers have a clear idea. What makes any of us who we are? Where is the source of that unquenchable inner fire?
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Feature
Fair Service: Patient Perspectives
By Judith Philipps Otto
With Medicare and Medicaid cost-cutting, diminished reimbursements from private insurance, and other current dilemmas facing O&P practitioners and other healthcare professionals, what’s happening to patients?
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Stepping Out
Casting for Foot Orthotics—What Works Best?
By Séamus Kennedy, BEng (Mech), CPed
One of the most frequent questions that I am askedduring an inservice on foot orthotics is: "What kind of casting doyou prefer?" I have given inservice presentations to many different groups:orthotic and prosthetic labs, podiatrists, physical ther...
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Salute!
O&P Companies Open Hearts to Palestinian Boy
Sometimes something as everyday and innocent asbicycling to a barbershop can lead to devastating injury--if youlive in a land torn by armed conflict. Fourteen-year-old Mohammed Shbeir, who lives in Gaza, Palestine,sustained life-threatening injuri...
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Industry Leader
Bertil Allard: Orthotics Visionary
By Jodi Mills
Bertil Allard (right) and his son Peter, the company owners. Sweden has nearly 10 million inhabitants and toutsitself as a country of endless possibilities. Bertil Allard,president and CEO of CAMP Scandinavia, headquartered inHelsingborg, Sweden,...
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Salute!
Medical Team’s ‘Can Do’ Spirit Aids Colombians
By Jeff Fredrick, MS, CPO
I've never seen an outbreak of bugs that have noname. "They are everywhere," we are told by a well-armedpoliceman. "They are crawling all over the woman with the newbaby." Debbie with Bianca and family.
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Got FAQs?
Got FAQs?
By Lisa Lake-Salmon Executive Vice President Acc-Q-Data Inc. The future of your practice depends on knowledgeable billing andcollection information. Understanding the full aspect of billingguidelines and procedures will effectively increase yourre...
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Profile
Charles McCorvey
Technician Alabama Artificial Limb & Orthopedic Service Inc. If you werent in O&P, what would be your nextcareer choice? Chef.
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Perspective
Looking Back to the Future
By Paddy Rossbach, RN,
As I look back over my incredibly enjoyable andinteresting life, I realize I probably would not have done half thethings that I did if I had not lost my leg at age six! Also, Iwould not have been able to do those things without having accessto the...
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Letters
Letter to the Editor: Insurance Problems--O&P’s Fault?
Regarding the "Perspective" commentary by Ralph Nobbe, CPO ,in the April 2004 issue of The O&P EDGE: Not only has the Barr Foundation been following the nationwidetrend of benefit reductions, we also have been actively advocatingfor measures that...
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Viewpoints
From the Editor: Improving Life for the Disabled
Two major organizations at both ends of thespectrum--providers and patients--meet this month. The International Society for Prosthetics & Orthotics (ISPO)is holding its 11th World Congress in Hong Kong August 16. Begun in 1970 in Copenhagen, Denma...
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College Park Industries, as part of their
commitment to excellence, melding revolutionary design, high
quality components, and a continuous drive to exceed customer
expectations, announces the inclusion of a FREE Sealing Boot with
every Trustep®, VentureTM, and TributeTM
Foot order.
The patented Sealing Boot is available in Caucasian and Negroid
natural life-like cosmetic shades to match the CPI Foot Shell.
Easily installed over a pylon's open end, the Sealing Boot and Foot
Shell interlock providing an effective barrier against
contamination.
Sealing Boots are manufactured from flexible, pliable foam and
can be cut to any size for use as interlocking gaskets in finished
legs.
For more information, contact:
College Park Industries
800.728.7950
www.college-park.com

Ongoing Care Solutions offers a complete line of
orthotics, including the PERFECT FIT Body Jacket. PERFECT FIT Body
Jackets have all the features of standard L.S.O. body jackets and
then some. The technically proven design is enhanced by the use of
special lightweight polymers, replacing the traditionally heavy
hard plastics of old. The special Air-LiteTM liner
conforms to the body and disperses pressure to prevent pressure
point soreness, which adds virtually no weight to the brace
allowing for a more custom fit.
The PERFECT FIT Body Jacket is SADMERC approved with code K-0648
and is available in sizes small, medium, large, extra-large, 2XL,
and 3XL.
For more information, contact:
Ongoing Care Solutions
800.375.0207
www.ongoingcare.com

WBC Industries, material supplier to the O&P
profession, has a new orthotic and prosthetic catalog and extended
product line. By popular demand, WBC Industries offers its new
catalog online at www.wbcindustries.com.
Visitors to the website can look up information on WBC
Industries' extended list of products, check out the Special
Offers' page for new discounts and monthly specials, and download
the catalog in sections or its entirety. Customers can also request
free samples and product information on the Sample/Catalog Request'
page.
If a customer feels that dial up Internet access may be too slow
for viewing or downloading the catalog, WBC Industries will be
happy to provide a free print copy to anyone who requests one.
For more information, contact:
WBC Industries
800.881.2932
www.wbcindustries.com
from SOUTH WEST ORTHOPEDIC DESIGNS
- Less Bulky
- Less Weight
- More Support
- Washable, Breathable
- Abrasion Resistance
- Colors: Beige, Black, Brown & Green

5-7 Day Turn Around on request
The South West Ankle Brace is one of the leading brands of
custom thermo-molded ankle braces made for non-operative management
of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, as well as many other foot
and ankle pathologies.
Clinical Conditions:
- Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD)
- Ankle arthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
- Tibial tendonitis (posterior or anterior)
- Ankle, subtalor, or midtarsal trauma
- Severe pronation or pes planus
- Talocalcaneal varus or valgus
- Post CVA/Polio Syndrome
Suggested L-Codes: L-1960, L-2280, L-2275, L-2820
For more information, contact:
Chuck Eral, CO
480.332.8120
fax: 480.556.9764
ceral1@cox.net
www.pttd.com

Realastic, a division of Health Related Products,
offers silicone protective coverings at value-added pricing. All
silicone products are made with Realastic's proprietary
formulation, producing an extremely durable skin--much more durable
than traditional RTV silicones. Realastic covers are offered in 24
colors, sizes ranging from infant to adult, from the Real-Flex
glove to a custom partial foot.
For more information, contact:
Realastic Prosthetics / a division of Health Related
Products
800.845.4566
www.healthrelatedproducts.com

Ossur presents the newest Iceross Seal-In Liner
for people on the go. The Iceross Transfemoral Seal-In Liner,
featuring Ossur's patented Hypobaric Sealing Membrane
(HSMTM), is ideal for low to moderately active
transfemoral amputees who would prefer to simply roll it on, step
into the socket, and go, confident that they will enjoy comfortable
and secure suspension.
Unlike conventional suction sockets, the silicone surface of the
Iceross Transfemoral Seal-In Liner may be thoroughly cleaned,
improving hygiene and reducing odor. In addition, once the Iceross
Transfemoral Seal-In Liner is positioned in the hard socket, the
HSM seal and the distal silicone pad actually grip the socket wall,
thus enhancing rotational stability and proprioceptive feedback for
the user.
For more information, contact:
Ossur
800.233.6263
www.ossur.com

Orthofeet is introducing innovative Mary Jane
shoes, which combine attractive styling with unique comfort
features:
- Stretchable construction across the metatarsals conforms to the
foot like a glove, adjusting the upper shape to perfectly fit
forefoot deformities and swollen feet.
- Foam-padding along the entire top edge of the shoe provides
extra protection. It hugs the foot, enhancing fit and comfort, and
eliminates the common "cutting into the foot" phenomenon with Mary
Jane shoes.
- Seamless fabric lining, padded with foam, enhances comfort and
protection.
- Hidden-Depth construction of the sole hides the extra depth of
the shoe, for an attractive appearance.
For more information, contact:
Orthofeet, Inc.
800.524.2845
www.orthofeet.com

Fillauer has redesigned its Gator Grip Flexible
Plunger. This one of a kind robust plunger flexes to find the
distal opening. The improved Gator Grip Flexible Plunger is
corrosion resistant and has an infinite number of locking
positions. Available in three lengths at 1-", 2" and 2-", the Gator
Grip Flexible Plunger is specifically designed for Gator Grip
Modular Locks. This design is covered by Swedish patent, US patent
pending.
For more information, contact:
Fillauer Companies, Inc.
800.251.6398
www.fillauer.com

One of Knit-Rite's most recent innovations, the
Compressogrip A/K Prosthetic Shrinker and the traditional B/K
Compressogrip Shrinker, are now offered with the advantages of pure
silver. Knit-Rite is the first to bring silver's antimicrobial and
therapeutic qualities to the O&P community with an entire
family of products constructed with X-Static The Silver Fiber, from
Noble Fiber Technologies.
Long known to kill germs, silver ions bind with bacteria to
inhibit infection before it gets started. Knit-Rite reports these
same advantages in the new line of post-operative X-Static
prosthetic shrinker applications. The manufacturer has also
received testimonials that the X-Static shrinker has helped
patients find relief from phantom pain.
X-Static Soft-Socks

Knit-Rite, the developers of Soft-Sock, the
original CoolMax/Lycra prosthetic sock, adds a new version that
takes advantage of the unique qualities of pure silver. Effectively
smothering' bacteria at the cellular level, silver ions bind with
proteins inside and outside of bacterial membranes to inhibit odor
and infection before it even begins.
Soft-Sock with X-Static still feels soft and cuddly against the
skin, and offers unbeatable moisture-wicking and thermodynamic
properties. Knit with just enough stretch to provide excellent
fitting qualities, fewer sizes fit most regular sock wearers,
making Soft-Sock a perennial favorite.
For more information, contact:
Knit-Rite
800.821.3094
www.knitrite.com