Discuss the various techniques employed in modifying the transfemoral socket.

Review alternative approaches for the treatment of an active amputee with a transfemoral socket.

Participate in an overview of the various suspension systems available for the transfemoral socket.

Tracing the evolution of a product from start to its current state is always educational. Participate in this review of the history of the transfemoral socket.

Review the options and considerations of limb salvage.

Discuss different pain management options for the lower-limb amputee.

The session will present practical approaches in the management of hip disarticulation and hemipelvectomy levels of amputation. The session will present case studies of fittings and problem solving of juvenile, active adult and geriatric fittings. Participants will be able to learn about evaluation, casting, alignment and gait assessment. Focus will be on practical approaches in the clinical management in these often difficult fittings.

This session chaired by Tom DiBello and presented by an international panel of experts will discuss the evaluation, design, impression and fitting process for pediatric lower limb orthoses. Lectures providing an in depth coverage of these topics will be followed by live patient evaluations and hands on casting demonstrations.

This session chaired by Tom DiBello and presented by an international panel of experts will discuss the evaluation, design, impression and fitting process for pediatric lower limb orthoses. Lectures providing an in depth coverage of these topics will be followed by live patient evaluations and hands on casting demonstrations.

Conventional harnessing serves the dual role of suspension and control of the body-powered prosthesis. Electrically powered prostheses may also rely on harnessed control sources to actuate switches, servos, or linear transducers. In designing a harness system it may be useful for the prosthetist to consider suspension and control separately. Self-suspending socket designs alter the harness requirements signifi cantly. Likewise, control inputs for electrically powered components have very different harnessing requirements from their conventional body-powered counterparts. This session will provide an overview of harnessing principles for body-powered and hybrid control strategies. Extensive use of case presentations will illustrate these principles. Receive an overview of harnessing principles for body-powered and hybrid control strategies. Extensive use of case presentations will illustrate these principles.

Discuss the positive effects of integrating occupational therapy in all phases of care for the person with an upper-extremity amputation. Review acute therapy treatment, pre-prosthetic intervention, interim prosthetic training, and advanced prosthetic training.

Gain a better understanding of the short and long term complications associated with fitting scarred limbs for upper-extremity prosthesis. Review EMG application for control of powered upper-limb prosthesis for use with scarred limbs and the weight distribution and effects on socket interface design for scarred limbs.

Review new electric partial hand prosthesis technologies designed to expand on the earlier work of Biden and Bush at the University of New Brunswick in the late 1990s. Discuss the diffi culty in treating a limb defi ciency distal to the wrist with a functional prosthesis and the multiple challenges involved.

Review the results of a multi-center outcomes study, which was carried out to test the quality of life and function of 499 children with UCBED, 68% of whom wear prostheses.

Dutch researchers in the 1980s found, among other things, that there were six common approaches people with unilateral, upper-limb amputations used to remove money from a wallet. Examine the various approaches amputees take to complete the same, every day task to assist you in being best prepared to assist your patients in their prosthetic and therapeutic needs.

Follow the progression of a 6-year-old Vietnamese boy who was brought to the US by a Chicago based charity group for bilateral transhumeral prostheses 10 years ago.

Review various interface designs for transradial fittings and compare advantages and disadvantages with regard to ROM, comfort, suspension, donning ease, and fabrication.

Review a 10-year retrospective chart of clients through an amputee clinic, which was done to identify if differences existed based upon timeframe of referral, rehabilitation program length, ADL independence and return to work, and prosthetic use.

The importance of evidence-based clinical audit and benchmarking is now clearly recognized and demands accurate data. Examine trends in demographic data, the rehabilitation process and in outcome measures. The recording of rehabilitation milestones has been invaluable in measuring the rehab process.

Review four major changes that have been implemented in Hassleholm-Kristianstad to standardize the treatment of amputees.

Review the results of a study that assessed the accuracy and reliability of seven prosthetic anthropometric measurement devices.

Various methods exist to measure or estimate the motional activity of an amputee. Review the results of an investigation of existing methods of objective patient activity measurements and their usefulness and relevance to patient care.

Discuss the usefulness of the Patient Activity Monitor (PAM) in assessing amputee's activities in daily life, which will help the prosthetist to better fit the prosthesis.

Review the usefulness of a quality assured rehabilitation program, The Empower SMART program, in standardizing procedures from the pre-operative considerations, amputation, acute therapy, wound care, compression therapy, physiotherapy, prosthetic fitting, and follow up.

Review the results of a study designed to investigate the effect on gait of AFO ankle alignment and footplate length in people with hemiplegia following stroke.

Scheuermann's Kyphosis, a deformity appearing in the late childhood or adolescence, is traditionally managed with TLSOs, casts and CTLSOs. Review the results of this study investigating the effectiveness of a new Dynamic Thoracic Extension Orthosis (DTEO).

The spine plays a role in maintaining upright posture and balance, and assists in reducing shock transmission during gait, a role it shares with the pelvis. Review the results of a study that investigated the effect of spinal restriction on gait in able-bodied people.

Investigate the method of rating the value of the orthotic intervention against the benefit. Discuss a scale to assess mobility issues.

Caudal Regression Syndrome or Sacral Agenesis is a neutral tube defect that occurs in one out of 7,500 live births. Discuss a case presentation of a specifi c patient with a L3 level of Caudal Regression Syndrome.

Quantify inter-segmental fl exion resist and pulmonary function in prefabricated rigid TLSO's, prefabricated soft TLSO's and made-to-measure polyethylene TLSO's.

Review the results of a 3-year research study involving Deformational Plagiocephaly intended to identify key variables that best determine overall cranial asymmetry.

Numerous studies indicate that there are therapeutic benefits to manually assisted locomotor training after neurological injury. Review efforts to use lightweight powered lower-limb orthoses to provide mechanical assistance during locomotor training.

Discuss the use of viscoelastic polymer in treating one of the most challenging foot complications with diabetes, Charcot foot, which presents as a variety of deformities, prominences and limited or hyper- mobile joint motions.

Review the results of a survey intended to determine the frequency of possible ethical issues in the field of orthotics, identify areas of concern, and identify potential resources for resolving ethical issues.

Review the use of Mobile Arm Supports (MAS), with the Adult Spinal Cord population, in allowing spinal cord injured individuals to maximize function of weak upper extremities.

Examine a method of predicting the appropriate dorsifl exion resistance for a particular patient through an analysis of gait data.

Evaluate the techniques and designs that may create a brace that could provide stability without locking the knee may improve gait efficiency and velocity.

Discuss results of a project that laid the foundation for the study of infant and toddler amputees by analyzing the adaptations of normal infants and toddlers when faced with an immobilized knee joint.

Fibular deficiency (FD) is the most common congenital deficiency of the long bones effecting 1 in 50,000 live births. Syme/Boyd amputations or limb lengthening during childhood are accepted treatments to manage the small, unstable foot and ankle and the limb length discrepancy that results. Compare adult outcomes for these two treatment regimens.

Review an investigation into solving the problems associated with the manufacture of prosthetic sockets. Address strength of the socket in relation to patient's weight and activity level, socket material choices, manufacturing methods, socket design variables, componentry choices, and socket model modification techniques.

Examine the differences in pistoning and residual limb interface motion allowed by different prosthetic gel suspension liners.

Compare the effects of a shock-absorbing pylon (SAP) and stance-phase knee flexion unit in persons with unilateral transfemoral amputations.

Review results of a comparison test of 4 specialized prosthetic running prototypes with one subject in a gait lab with 8 VICON cameras and two video cameras.

Assess a two-step post-operative care regimen that has been followed for more than 30 years on patients who have undergone the Ertl procedure.

Examine the results of a review performed on the ability of foot prostheses to accommodate different terrain, such as level ground, stairs and slopes.

This symposium will educate the practitioner on management of the traumatic and pathologically unstable upper thoracic and lower cervical spine. Current techniques as well as new research will be presented. Also presenting will be a neurosurgeon discussing a physicians perspective on orthotic management of spine instabilities. Attendees will be encouraged to participate in the question and answer session.

Seven gentlemen from Iraq with transradial limb loss were brought to Houston, TX for residual limb revision surgeries and prosthetic evaluation. The gentlemen received donated services ranging from surgeries, myoelectric prosthetic devices, fabrication of prostheses and rehabilitation services. The gentlemen's progress is chronicled from the time they arrived and received revision surgeries up to the conclusion, which focused on prosthetic functional use training. The team approach discussed in this situation involves the relationships of the prosthetists, therapists and a manufacturer's representative.

Review the findings of the two recent Academy Consensus Conferences on Plagiocephaly and the Diabetic Foot with the consensus conference leaders.

Focus on all of the different types of controls needed in an O&P company. Issues to be addressed include; financial controls such as bank reconciliations, petty cash controls, reimbursed expenses, bank deposits, check signing, segregation of duties, A/R writeoffs, organization controls (employee theft, coding errors, security of assets, levels of approvals and authorizations, and much more).

Learn the life changing technique that you can apply to both your personal and business life. Train your brain to think more logically and react less emotionally.

Focus on some practical financial principles and applications to help make your O&P company a profitable one. Discuss the following: controlling costs, standard cost analysis, financial reporting, growing your business, financial benchmarks, and budgeting/goal setting. The attendee will receive free of charge a comprehensive Microsoft Excel budgeting template designed by Promise Consulting for O&P companies.

Our lives are moving faster every day. Reimbursement, billing, patient care, referral sources, staffing - all are changing. How can we cope with all of these changes? The goal of this program is to help attendees learn how to deal with change.

Learn what separates the all-stars from the benchwarmers. Why do some people quickly and easily win peoples confidence? Since an estimated 65%-70% of communications is what we see and do rather than what we say it is important to understand what non-verbal messages you are unconscientiously sending and receiving. We make decisions as to what we like and dislike within the first six seconds of visual contact. The goal of this program is to create awareness of this powerful communication tool. Participants will learn how to improve their communications through their actions.

Join this group discuss on the current trends in Accounts Receivable that are directly impacting your practice. Learn how to do a better job of collecting money due to you. Track what is going on in your practice to make better strategic and practical decisions.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta will present interdisciplinary strategies for the management of spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy. Content includes the implications and impact of conservative, surgical, orthotic and physical therapy treatment options. Considerations for outcome oriented decision-making and treatment plan development will be discussed.

Microprocessor controlled knee component technology for transfemoral amputees has seen a recent surge in clinical use. Early anecdotal reports have suggested that transfemoral amputees can experience a new freedom in activity and improved function in a range of domains. Explore the results of studies assessing the microprocessor knee technology from various viewpoints.

Some of the most challenging congenital limb deficiencies are the various forms of proximal femoral focal defi ciency (PFFD). This 90-minute symposium will comprehensively discuss diagnostic and treatment options with respect to the multiple types of PFFD. Surgical and prosthetic options will be discussed in detail with emphasis not only on satisfactory outcomes but complications.

Successful prosthetic management of persons with bilateral lower limb loss requires careful consideration of fitting techniques and appropriate selection of componentry to provide the best opportunity for the patient to achieve functional, efficient mobility. Due to their level of disability and limitations in current prosthetic technology, the gait of bilateral amputees is considerably different from able-bodied individuals and persons with unilateral limb loss. Generally, bilateral amputees walk considerably slower, expend significantly more energy, and rely on more gait compensatory mechanisms. Results from recent research indicate that prosthetic components designed to increase ankle motion provide significant improvement in walking ability among persons with bilateral limb loss.

The importance of education and training is a key issue being addressed by the Academy’s Grant Team. The Master Agenda Conference of Grant 1 and Grant 2 specifically address the relationship between education and professional practice. Learn what strides the Grant Team and Master Agenda team have made in strengthening the bridge between education and professional practice.

The adolescent and teenage years are a difficult time for most children. Compound the standard adolescent/teenage “issues” with the use of an orthotic or prosthetic device. Discuss the most difficult social and emotional issues faced by adolescent and teenage O&P users. Share ideas on how to ease the transition through this part of life for the O&P user.

The true effectiveness of bracing cannot be determined without accurately documenting actual wear. Examine the results of this study, which was intended to objectively measure the wear patterns of patients with idiopathic scoliosis prescribed to wear an orthosis and to study the impact of actual wear on treatment outcome.

Use of cranial remodeling devices for the treatment of Deformational Plagiocephaly has become a standard of care in the United States. However, very little is reported in the medical literature about the postoperative use of these devices. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of our cranial remodeling orthosis following surgery for craniosynostosis.

There is a lack of objective research in the industry to substantiate claims that a microprocessor-controlled knee would improve a patient’s function and confi dence. This study is intended to examine the functional difference between a patient’s conventional knee and a microprocessor-controlled knee and determine if the knee improves function, perception, performance, and is a medical necessity.

Some clinicians have advocated the use of extension orthoses as a means of correcting the kyphotic deformity, thereby preventing or delaying further collapse and relieving the painful symptoms. However, there is no objective data on the effectiveness of spinal extension alone in restoring the normal spinal biomechanics after a thoracic osteoporotic VCF. This study investigated the effect of spinal extension alone on fracture reduction and restoration of normal geometric and loading alignment.