Your questions answered

 

Clinical Partners and Distributors

 

Which Dorset Orthopaedic products are available for distributors and clinical partners?

Distribution opportunities exist for our award-winning lifelike silicone covers and SAFO product range. We engage with both clinical providers and distributors directly to supply these products.

 

Who are Dorset Orthopaedic's clinical partners?

Our clinical partners tend to be prosthetic and orthotic clinical businesses delivering a high-quality service. They are often leading players in their region and have a market-leading reputation for comfort, build quality and customer service. Depending on local public health services, our partners often have a private business or are keen to develop this.

 

What are the benefits of becoming a clinical partner?

• Your patients will benefit from silicone products with the finest fit and appearance. Our flexible and friendly approach ensures minimum disruption to your patients and staff.
• We provide training for your clinical and technical staff to ensure they fit the covers and orthotic products to consistently high standards. Our training programmes include, colour matching techniques for single-colour cosmesis, prosthetic component suitability, preparing and shaping a limb for silicone, and transparent test-piece training, casting.
• You will gain full access to specialist clinical support for challenging prosthetic and orthotic patients.
• Our business planning partnership includes sales and marketing support and training.

 

How does a clinical partnership with Dorset Orthopaedic work?

For prosthetic silicone cosmeses we typically ask that your clinic gathers three or four patients who would like a silicone cover from Dorset Orthopaedic. You fit the prosthesis in the usual way, focusing on comfort, fit and function. We will then arrange for a Dorset Orthopaedic technician to attend your facility and hold a silicone clinic. The technician will provide a colour-matching service for your clients and take the details necessary to manufacture a silicone cosmesis (silicone skin). Next, we'll deliver the silicone cover in around four weeks, shipping it direct to your clinic for fitting.

For SAFO/Orthotic partnerships, the engagement process will differ depending on the product range you are interested in.

 

Prosthetic Silicone Products

 

What silicone cover choices do my patients have?

There are generally three choices:

• High-Definition (multi colour): these products use any number of colours necessary to closely match the colours and tonal definition of the patient.
• Tri-Colour: manufactured using the three most appropriate colours from the patient's contra lateral limb.
• Single-Colour: featuring the single closest colour to the patient’s contra lateral limb.

We design and hand-sculpt each product, featuring individual details and shaping from moulds of the patient's contra lateral hand or foot. For High-Definition products, we can add such bespoke features as hairs, follicle marks, moles and tattoos.

 

What are your classifications of silicone products?

• Toe
• Partial Foot
• Symes
• Below Knee
• Above Knee (discontinuous cosmesis, stopping at the knee)
• Above Knee (full leg)
• Finger
• Partial Hand
• Below Elbow myo-electric arm
• Below Elbow dress arm
• Above Elbow myo-electric arm
• Above Elbow dress arm
• Through Shoulder
• Restoration Covers (for badly scarred or disfigured limbs)

 

How long does a silicone cover last?

It will last for between two to three years, on average. When looked after, silicone is very resilient and hardwearing and will last a long time. We can also conduct repairs in certain situations.

 

What prosthetic components can you use within a silicone cover?

We can use most prosthetic components, within reason. You can discuss this in more detail with our clinicians.

 

Can you alter a limb once the silicone cover is applied?

Yes, all covers are removable. This allows us to alter limb alignment, replace sockets and service components. For partial limb prostheses made entirely from silicone, such as a foot or hand, we always manufacture a test piece first. This is a basic piece of clear silicone that we test for fit, function and alignment before making the definitive piece. Once we've made the definitive piece, we can only alter it slightly.

 

How do you care for a silicone product?

It is easy to care for silicone. Regularly wipe the outside of the product with a damp cloth, using a liquid soap where necessary to keep the surface clean. If the silicone contacts any part of the body, patients should clean it regularly with warm soapy water.

 

Will it add weight to a prosthesis?

Yes, however this weight should be minimal with a well-fitting prosthesis.

 

Orthotic Products

 

Which Dorset Orthopaedic orthotic products are available for clinical partners and distribution?

Distribution and clinical partnership opportunities exist for our award-winning SAFO product range.

 

What is a SAFO?

The SAFO (Silicone Ankle Foot Orthosis) is an orthotic device that helps people with 'plantar flexed foot' – commonly known as drop foot. We make each SAFO individually from a plaster cast mould of our clients' feet and legs.

 

How does it work?

Unlike traditional plastic and carbon fibre ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) the SAFO lifts the foot from the top. This is a natural action and does not cause pressure or discomfort underneath the foot's plantar aspect.

 

What is it made of?

We make the SAFO from silicone, except the Velcro straps. The different densities of silicone create a flexible, dynamic and supportive total-contact orthotic solution. The result is a product that greatly reduces the risk of pressure areas.

 

What is the SAFO Go?

The SAFO Go is an off-the-shelf product that comes in standard adult and children shoes sizes. It comes with an adjustable foot section and an adjustable leg section with external strapping. Appropriately qualified clinicians must supply SAFO Go and it is suitable for widespread distribution.

 

What are the benefits of becoming a SAFO Go distributor?

• Your clinical network will benefit from orthotic silicone products featuring the highest quality fit and appearance.
• We can give your sales teams the training and materials they need to market SAFO Go successfully.
• You will have full access to our specialist clinical support.
• Our business planning partnership includes sales and marketing support.

 

To find out more about distribution and clinical partnership opportunities, please call +44 (0) 1425 481756 or email claren@dorset-ortho.com.