Pediatric Articulated AFO Product Information

What is a pediatric articulated AFO?
How to place an order
Design Options
Measurements Required
Fabrication Instructions
FAQs

What is a pediatric articulated AFO?

The articulated ankle-foot orthosis is a plastic AFO composed of a foot plate and shank with joints installed between the pieces on the medial and lateral sides of the ankle. An articulated AFO is used to maintain the alignment and stability of the ankle joint and control the ankle’s rotation. It is printed on the Galileo O&P machine using PC Blend polycarbonate filament.

The pediatric version of the articulated AFO is printed at 2.5 mm, instead of the adult 3.5 mm thickness. This reduces the weight and bulk of the device for pediatric uses. A flexible inner boot is available with pediatric articulated AFOs.

How to Order

Before ordering this product, clinician preferences must be established with the Protosthetics design team. If you have not set up or want to update your clinician preferences, please schedule a meeting with your design lead by emailing success@protosthetics.com.
Log into FabOne, and click “Order” under the Pediatric Articulated AFO section.
Attach a scan of the limb, cast, or plaster positive.
Proceed to the order form to fill out the requested details.

Pediatric AFO Design Options

AFO Types

Pediatric articulated AFO (Beta): Thinner 2.5 mm print for pediatric cases
Pediatric AFO can be paired with an inner boot for an additional design charge. This inner boot is printed in TPU 72D on the Galileo O&P Small toolhead. Design options are shown below.
Enter approximate body weight (lbs) in a pediatric AFO order

Space for Footplate Padding

The selected amount of space is added to the footplate on the sole of the foot, not along the medial or lateral footplate surfaces.
Space options are: None, 1/8”, 3/16”, or 1/4”

Cast Corrections

None
Correct to neutral in frontal plane: the shank and foot will be vertically aligned in the frontal plane to eliminate pronation or supination in the scan.
Correct to 90 degrees in sagittal plane: Correct the scan to an ankle angle of 90 degrees in the sagittal plane to eliminate dorsiflexion or plantar flexion in the scan.

Design Additions

Add plantar flexion stop: Limits range of motion of the ankle to eliminate plantar flexion by adding a plastic buildup (stop) posterior to the ankle on the footplate and shank.
Flare proximal trimline: Flare the trimline at the proximal edge of the shank piece to reduce pressure on calf muscle and enable easier doffing.

Heel Posting

None: no flat surface added
Neutral: flat surface added beneath the heel
Medial, Lateral: flat surface added distally beneath the heel and shifted in the selected medial or lateral direction

Reliefs

A standard depth of 2mm will be applied to the relief location. Please specify in additional information if you would like to change this value or relieve any other locations.

Medial or lateral malleoli
Navicular
Base of the 5th met.

Joint Options

Choose from the following joints:

Tamarack 740 L
Tamarack 740 M
Tamarack 742 L Dorsi-Assist
Tamarack 742 M Dorsi-Assist
Tamarack 740 P
Tamarack 742 P Dorsi-Assist

Pediatric Inner Boot Design Options

Inner Boot Thickness

Thin (1.7 mm)
Standard (2.0 mm)
Thick (2.5 mm)

Inner Boot Footplate Length

Sulcus (standard)
Full
3/4

Add Space to Inner Boot for Footplate Padding

Selected amount of space (none, 1/8”, or 3/16”) is added to the footplate on the sole of the foot, not along the medial or lateral footplate surfaces.
Footplate padding will be applied to the inner boot and not the AFO surface.

Add Space to Inner Boot for Malleolar Padding

Selected amount of space (none, 1/8”, or 3/16”) is added to the inner boot, with the AFO surface adjusted to match.

Required Measurements

We will ask you for the following measurements in the order form (*required measurements):

Pediatric AFO Order:

Supramalleolar Circumference
Circumference from Back of Heel over Front of Ankle
Circumference through Apex of Arch
Circumference over 1st and 5th Met Heads
Posterior Calcaneus to end of 1st Toe
Posterior Calcaneus to end of 1st Met Head
Posterior Calcaneus to end of 5th Met Head
Width at Met Heads
Width at Heel
Posterior Calcaneus to end of 5th Toe
* Height of Medial Malleolus
* Height of Lateral Malleolus
* Width at Apex of Malleoli
* Height of AFO Proximal Trim
Circumference at Height of AFO Proximal Trim

Pediatric AFO with Inner Boot Order:

Supramalleolar Circumference
* Circumference from Back of Heel over Front of Ankle
Circumference through Apex of Arch
Circumference over 1st and 5th Met Heads
Posterior Calcaneus to end of 1st Toe
* Posterior Calcaneus to end of 1st Met Head
* Posterior Calcaneus to end of 5th Met Head
* Width at Met Heads
Width at Heel
Posterior Calcaneus to end of 5th Toe
* Height of Medial Malleolus
* Height of Lateral Malleolus
* Width at Apex of Malleoli
* Height of AFO Proximal Trim
Circumference at Height of AFO Proximal Trim
Height of Inner Boot Proximal Trim

Fabrication Instructions

Print on the Galileo O&P machine with polycarbonate filament (PC Blend) in the small toolhead on the left and PETG in the large toolhead on the right. The wall thickness is 3.5 mm for adult AFOs and 2.5 mm for pediatric AFOs.

Pediatric inner boot is printed in TPU 72D on the Galileo O&P machine with the small toolhead.

Grinding

Break off support material on the heel of the footplate. Use 100-150 grit sandpaper to remove any residual support material. Use 400-600 grit sandpaper to smooth the trimlines. Use Tycro or silicone polishing cones to perfect the finish.

Padding

Apply padding where desired with any standard orthotic glue.

Heat Modifications

With a heat gun, material is pliable for adjustments at 70C-85C without melting.

Chemical Modifications

Do not use acetone. Isopropyl alcohol or Goo-gone is recommended for removing residual glue.