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SMO Product Information

Table of Contents

  • What is an SMO?
  • How to place an order
  • Design Options
  • Measurements Required
  • Fabrication Instructions
  • FAQs

What is an SMO?

A supra-malleolar orthosis is a flexible orthosis that aligns the ankle and foot while still allowing movement, often for children with hypotonia, pronation, or supination. Our SMO is printed out of TPU 72D on the Galileo O&P machine. The thickness can be adjusted to get different stiffnesses.

How to Order an Articulated AFO

  1. Log into FabOne. Click “Order” under the SMO product listing.
  2. Attach a scan of the limb, cast, or plaster positive.
    1. Select “files not required” at the top if doing an SMO by measurements.
  3. Proceed to the order form to fill out the requested details.

 Design Options on the Order Form

Material Thickness

  • Standard (2 mm)
  • Thick (2.5 mm) - stiffer to offer more control
  • Thin (1.7 mm) - less stiff to reduce control, often for younger patients

Encompassing

  • 1st Met: Medial trim line of brace above the 1st met
  • 5th Met: Lateral trim line of brace above the 5th met
  • None: Medial and lateral trim lines below the mets

     Add 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: 1/8”, 3/16”, or none

    Heel Posting Length

    • Heel only: Flat surface added beneath the heel
    • Extended: Flat surface added beneath the heel and extended forward under the arch - use for greater pronation/supination stability

    Cast Correction

    • None: Leave scan as is
    • 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.
    • Other: Describe in the additional information section

    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. 

    • Navicular

    • Base of the 5th met

    • Malleoli

    • Other:  Add in additional information section

       

    Include Holes for Straps

    • Yes: Positioned halfway between the ground and the apex of the lateral malleolus, slightly anterior

    • No

     

     Required Measurements

    Further details about the measurements are available here, including pictures. An asterisk* indicates the measurement is required. 

    SMO by Measurements

    1. *Supramalleolar Circumference
    2. *Circumference from Back of Heel over Front of Ankle
    3. *Circumference through Apex of Arch
    4. Circumference over 1st and 5th Met Heads
    5. *Posterior Calcaneus to end of 1st Toe
    6. *Posterior Calcaneus to end of 1st Met Head
    7. *Posterior Calcaneus to end of 5th Met Head
    8. *Width at Met Heads
    9. *Width at Heel
    10. Posterior Calcaneus to end of 5th Toe
    11. *Height of Medial Malleolus
    12. *Height of Lateral Malleolus
    13. *Width at Apex of Malleoli
    14. Height of Desired Proximal Trim

    SMO by Scan

    1. Supramalleolar Circumference
    2. *Circumference from Back of Heel over Front of Ankle
    3. Circumference through Apex of Arch
    4. Circumference over 1st and 5th Met Heads
    5. Posterior Calcaneus to end of 1st Toe
    6. *Posterior Calcaneus to end of 1st Met Head
    7. *Posterior Calcaneus to end of 5th Met Head
    8. *Width at Met Heads
    9. Width at Heel
    10. Posterior Calcaneus to end of 5th Toe
    11. *Height of Medial Malleolus
    12. *Height of Lateral Malleolus
    13. *Width at Apex of Malleoli
    14. Height of Desired Proximal Trim

    Fabrication Instructions 

    The SMO is printed in TPU 72D on the Galileo O&P in the small toolhead. After printing, you can continue the fabrication with these post-processing steps:

    Support Removal

    Pull away any support material and trim any excess threads of filament.

    Toe Plate

    Cut the toe plate to the desired shape.

    Straps, Padding

    Add straps in holes that were requested on the order form or drill your own holes. Apply padding where desired with any standard orthotic glue.

    Add Designs!

    The easiest way to add designs to the SMO is with temporary tattoos. Select the image based on what will show up against the color of the SMO. Cut it out and remove the clear protective film. Apply it to the surface with warm water on a cloth or paper towel. Remove the backing paper, let it dry, and seal with a thin layer of Mod Podge.

    FAQs