Orthotics & Prosthetics

Depending on the specific orthopedic condition, you or your loved one may benefit from an orthotic device (orthosis) or a prosthetic device to help you return to as much function as possible.

• Orthotics – External devices such as braces, splints, shoes and shoe inserts, wraps, collars, and more that help adjust the body’s structure and function to reduce pain and improve movement
• Prosthetics – Artificial devices designed to restore normal function by replacing a missing body part such as hand, wrist, shoulder, arm, leg, foot, ankle, knee, hip

At OU Health, you and your loved ones – both adults and children – gain access to a team of experts in the field of orthotics, prosthetics and pedorthics, certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC). Your highly trained specialists provide a thorough evaluation of your situation and work with you or your loved ones to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets your particular goals, activity level, lifestyle and current and long-term needs. Your OU Health orthotic and prosthetic specialists stay with you every step of the way, from first visit through ongoing follow-up care.

Orthotics

After your comprehensive evaluation, which includes measurement, impressions or casting, your OU Health orthotics expert makes your recommended orthotic device in our full-service lab, where we develop supportive devices for even the most complicated orthopedic cases in adults or children. Your orthotic solution may involve pre-made or custom-built options such as:

Lower Limb Orthotics

• Ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) – Provides support and proper joint alignment

• Clubfoot management – Includes a combination of treatment methods, such as stretching exercises, braces and casts

• Knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO) – Corrects instabilities in the lower limb through proper alignment and motion control

• Reciprocating gait orthosis (RGO) – Consists of a hip-knee-ankle-foot orthosis (HKAFO), custom-molded pelvic girdle and thoracic extension in a full-body orthotic device that helps you stand upright, unassisted, and walk with crutches or a walker

• Stance control KAFO – Corrects lower limb instabilities with free motion support

Upper Limb Orthotics

• Fracture bracing – Uses a specialized brace in a nonoperative treatment for fractures

• Shoulder orthoses (SO) – Provides shoulder stability and controls alignment

• Wrist-hand orthosis (WHO) – Controls range of motion to stabilize a joint

Spinal Orthotics

• Spinal orthotics – Supports scoliosis and pectus carinatum conditions by using a Charleston bending brace, Boston-style brace, or Providence brace

Cranial Orthotics

• Cranial (head) brace – Corrects scaphocephaly (narrow head shape) through gentle cranial remodeling

Prosthetics

To help meet your specific health needs and long-term goals, you’ll work with OU Health prosthetic experts to evaluate, measure, fabricate and fit you with a customized device designed to replace the missing limb or body part and return you to the best possible function for your particular situation. Materials for constructing prostheses include lightweight carbon fiber, aluminum, titanium or silicone. Depending on your needs, you may benefit from a customized prosthetic such as:

Upper Limb Prosthetics

• Cosmetic restorations – Creates a customized silicone restoration for a hand

• Myoelectric transradial and transhumeral prostheses – Replaces an arm above or below the elbow, depending on your situation, with a computer-controlled prosthesis

• Partial hand/finger prostheses – Provides functional and cosmetic solution for partial limb replacement

• Pediatric prosthetics – Includes devices specially sized to fit children’s growing bodies

• Shoulder disarticulation (amputation) – Uses artificial limb or joint to replace shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand

Lower Limb Prosthetics

• Cosmetic restorations – Creates customized silicone restoration for a foot

• Hip disarticulation (amputation) – Uses artificial limb or joint to replace hip, knee, ankle and foot

• Myoelectric transtibial and transfemoral prostheses -- Replaces a leg above or below the knee, depending on your situation, with a computer-controlled prosthesis

• Partial foot prostheses – Provides functional and cosmetic solution for partial limb or joint replacement

• Pediatric prosthetics -- Offers devices specially sized to fit children's growing bodies

• Proximal focal femoral deficiency (PFFD) management – Corrects abnormal femur (thigh bone) and hip development in children

• Rotationplasty -- Rotates and reattaches portion of remaining limb

Pedorthics (Foot Care)

Get comprehensive care from the expert OU Health pedorthists, specially trained to prevent or reduce painful foot and ankle conditions, so you can walk through life with as much comfort as possible. Your OU Health certified pedorthist will carefully take measurements and impressions to create a support device customized for your individual needs. You and your pedorthist may choose from support devices and footwear solutions such as:

• Charcot restraint orthotic walker (CROW) – Foot and ankle pressure relief for peripheral neuropathy (pain, numbness or swelling)

• Footwear for diabetes – Custom shoes and cushioning inserts to manage foot complications from diabetes

• Foot orthoses – Shoe inserts and footwear modifications, including supramalleolar orthosis (SMO), arch supports, heel lifts, shoe lifts and toe fillers, that provide support and pain relief

Sports orthotics – Properly aligns the foot and the ankle specifically for sports-related needs