The management of amputations of the leg using a new rigid foam plaster for prosthetic fitting.

This paper describes the use of a rigid polyurethane foam to construct a stump socket for immediate or early prosthetic fitting in 15 patients with amputation through the leg. The foam plaster is poured into a prepared cotton sleeve, with a zip incorporated, and rolled out to a layer 4 mm thick. The filled sleeve is put around the stump and the zip closed, moulding the sleeve firmly to the stump. The closed sleeve hardens into a rigid polyurethane shell within 20 min. Aferwards the skeletal prosthetic components are fixed with the same rigid foam. The polyurethane foam socket is quickly and cleanly prepared, only one third of the weight of a plaster of Paris cast and is easily removed by means of the zip, allowing access to the stump.