RESPONCES FOR GEL SOCKET

Dear list memebers,

Here are some valuable and informative responces for the gel method of making prosthesis.Thanks to all who responce and their kind consideration.

thanks again

IRTAZA KAZMI

Officer incharge

Orthotics and prosthetics centre,

THE PAKISTAN SOCIETY FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE DISABLED

111-FROZEPUR ROAD LAHORE

 PAKISTAN

+92-300-9438215

The alginate impression technique has been used extensively for years for partial hand and finger cosmetic prostheses. An impression of the intact sound limb can also be taken so that the new prosthesis can be fabricated as an almost perfect duplication. I don’t believe the cost difference is significant.

Jim Fitzpatrick, CP

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Alginate is much more expensive than plaster and will shrink if you don’t fill the initial mold immediately.

David T. Hughes JR, C.P.

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This type of impression technique was done at Northwestern University over 35 years ago. The method can be a bit cumbersome. With this technique if the patient has any loose or flabby tissues, the tissue will tend to “float” and be misshapen in the liquid media. Best results were obtained when the patient had a very firm residual limb. Due to a lack of control for the tissues in general the technique was used sparingly.

Robert L Hrynko, CPO

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Before you get too excited, you need to call and get a price quote on a 5 lb bag or alginate. It is very expensive, and then you still have to fill it with plaster to make a model, and then pull a check socket after modifying the model (unless you think you can successfully make a laminated socket from a model of a non-weightbearing limb).

I can’t see any advantage to this method, it is not inexpensive by any means. It would cost a fortune.

I have actually tried this on myself (a BK amputee). I filled a small bucket with alginate, and then put my leg in the alginate, and poured it, made a model and did no modifications. The check socket did not fit at all, it was painful.

I hope that there is some new technique that makes it easier, and more importantly, BETTER.

Thanks,

JIm DeWees, CP

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Alginate is a dental impression material that was developed in the United States as a replacement for Agar (still used in the ornamental plaster industry) that experienced a war time shortage (World War 2). I believe seaweed is a major component of this system. Alginate is the material they use to make an impression for false teeth. I’m not familiar with the techniques that you referenced but it sounds, at first glance, to be nothing new. It is a practice that has been used before, but I’ve never heard of anyone having much success with the technique. Alginate makes a realistic impression but absolutely no weight bearing or compression influences on the final plaster positive model. Alginate has been used to create an impression of the distal portion of the limb under weight bearing in diagnostic check sockets (it’s squirted in with a caulk gun and empty cartridge). Alginate isn’t exactly inexpensive. It is also a thick liquid that needs a bucket or box of s!
ome sort to contain the material (which means that you end up using a lot of it). Plaster bandage would be much less expensive and in a pinch, I’ve used burlap and molding plaster.

Charles King

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This is not new. It has been considered by many, myself and my father about 35 years ago. This method provide a very good “Passive” shape and volume of the residual-limb. As we all know, this shape is not optimum for comfort and stability of the residual-limb under dynamic loads created during weight-bearing, walking activities.

Jan Stokosa, C.P.

Michigan, USA

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