Convery P, Greig R J, Ross R S, Sockalingam S
National Centre for Training and Education in Prosthetics and Orthotics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Prosthet Orthot Int. 2004 Aug;28(2):175-82. doi: 10.1080/03093640408726702.
This study investigates if fabrication techniques employed at different orthotic centres affect the characteristics of the manufactured plastic orthoses. Plaster models were formed from the same master mould. The thickness and bending stiffness of the supplied polypropylene sheets were measured prior to fabrication. An orthotic technician at each of the 3 orthotic centres manufactured 4 homopolymer and 4 copolymer polypropylene ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), following each centre's fabrication practice. Another technician at one of the orthotic centres manufactured an additional 4 homopolymer and 4 copolymer AFOs. The thickness, the dorsiflexion stiffness and plantarflexion stiffness of the 32 fabricated AFOs were monitored and compared. Analysis of the results suggests: Copolymer polypropylene sheets are supplied marginally thicker than homopolymer polypropylene sheets. The difference between the thickness of the 16 copolymer and 16 homopolymer AFOs was not significant. The thickness of the AFOs manufactured in copolymer was less consistent than homopolymer. Dorsiflexion stiffness of the copolymer AFOs was less consistent than homopolymer AFOs. Although the bending stiffness of the copolymer and homopolymer sheets differed significantly, there was no significant difference between the dorsiflexion stiffness of the copolymer and homopolymer AFOs. Plantarflexion stiffness was consistent for both the copolymer and the homopolymer AFOs and there was no significant difference between the plantarflexion stiffness of the copolymer and homopolymer AFOs. The thickness and flexural stiffness of the AFOs manufactured by 2 technicians at the same centre did not differ. These results are useful benchmarks for the flexural stiffness of AFOs.
本研究调查了不同矫形中心所采用的制作技术是否会影响所制造的塑料矫形器的特性。用同一个母模制作石膏模型。在制作之前测量所提供的聚丙烯片材的厚度和弯曲刚度。3个矫形中心的每位矫形技师按照各自中心的制作方法制作4个均聚物和4个共聚物聚丙烯踝足矫形器（AFO）。其中一个矫形中心的另一位技师额外制作了4个均聚物和4个共聚物AFO。对制作好的32个AFO的厚度、背屈刚度和跖屈刚度进行监测和比较。结果分析表明：共聚物聚丙烯片材的供应厚度略厚于均聚物聚丙烯片材。16个共聚物AFO和16个均聚物AFO的厚度差异不显著。用共聚物制作的AFO的厚度一致性不如均聚物。共聚物AFO的背屈刚度一致性不如均聚物AFO。虽然共聚物片材和均聚物片材的弯曲刚度差异显著，但共聚物AFO和均聚物AFO的背屈刚度之间没有显著差异。共聚物和均聚物AFO的跖屈刚度均一致，且共聚物和均聚物AFO的跖屈刚度之间没有显著差异。同一中心的2位技师制作的AFO的厚度和弯曲刚度没有差异。这些结果是AFO弯曲刚度的有用基准。
