PDE ORTHOSIS

It's Your Choice!

    • Welcome

      Welcome to our information service on the Posterior Dynamic Element (PDE) Orthosis. This website is a collaboration between the manufacturer of the PDE components, Fabtech Systems, and NeuroMuscular Orthotics in Melbourne Australia.

      Click on the logo to visit the NeuroMuscular Orthotics website.

      NeuroMuscular Orthotics

      "Live an ordinary life"

      NeuroMuscular Orthotics is based in Melbourne and is the Australian specialist in the complex orthotic management of neurological disorders. Our clinical team has over 60 years of collective public & private health experience and we currently manage over 1200 adults/children with extensive neurological involvement.

       

      Since the release of the PDE in October 2015, we have successfully fitted over 1000 clients with the orthosis and hope to share some of our clinical outcomes with you.

       

       

    • How does the pde function?

      Video showing how the PDE stores & releases energy!

      The PDE Orthosis - the most advanced dynamic AFO

      The PDE Orthosis uses a removable carbon fibre strut which connects the calf section to the foot section. With nine 200mm springs, nine 250mm springs and seven 300mm springs to choose from, the client and clinician can alter strut stiffness depending on what function is required, what activity a client is doing and how much control is required.

    • Components

      What is the PDE Orthosis comprised of?

      Adult Strut

      Removable & Angle Adjustability

      The PDE Strut currently comes in 3 lengths: 200mm, 250mm & 300mm. The struts are removable and adjustable and the client &/or clinician can change the strut stiffness depending on the particular activity they are doing. Pre-threaded stainless steel anchors are laminated within the fibre matrix which facilitates precise strut adjustment.

      Kids' Strut

      0.5 & 0.75 Stiffness

      Two paediatric struts have been developed that are 200mm in length. They come in a 0.5 & 0.75 stiffness and some kids may benefit from a stiffer 200mm Category 1 strut for higher functioning activities such as running. Lightweight anchors are laminated within the matrix which facilitates precise strut adjustment.

      Shim Kit

      Removable Carbon Fibre Shims

      A Paediatric & Adult shim kit has been developed which allows changes to be made to the ankle planatarflexion dorsiflexion angle. A shim which allows external or internal rotation of the foot section on the calf section is also included in both shim kits.

      BOA Closure

      Optional Click Medical Cuff System

      An optional Click Medical BOA Closure is available with the PDE. Clients who require foot/ankle complex off-loading can tight the BOA closure to take Moore weight through the proximal calf/tibia. Conversely, if a client has volume fluctuation, the BOA closure can be used to provide an adjustable proximal calf fit.

      Fitting Kit

      200mm & 300mm Fitting Kit

      NeuroMuscular Orthotics keeps a 200mm, 250mm & 300mm fitting kit available at all times at our practice. The fitting kit has a Category 1,2,3,4 & 5 in each length and this allows the client to try different struts to see if different stiffness is more beneficial for certain activities.

    • Conditions

      The PDE Orthosis can be utilised for many different pathologies:

      Nerve & Muscle Conditions

      CP

      GBS

      Polio

      Stroke

      MS

      CMT

      Spina Bifida

      Muscular Dystrophy

      Brain Injury

      Spinal Cord Injury

      Orthopaedic Conditions

      Failed Union

      Chronic Foot & Ankle Pain

      Partial Foot Amputation

      Chopart

      Lisfranc

      Transmetatarsal

       

    • Photos

      Photos of the PDE Orthosis fitted to various clients.

    • Videos

      Browse our videos to view the outcomes that our clients have achieved in the PDE.

      Spina Bifida

      Footage courtesy of Leah, her family & the team at Interface Orthotics, Perth WA

      Young Leah was diagnosed with Spina Bifida as an infant. Leah and the team at Interface Orthotics have used the Paediatric PDE to provide controlled ankle dorsiflexion through stance phase to supplement her weakened calf musculature and provide propulsion in push-off. They have fine tuned her alignment for optimal fluent walking and Leah might need stiffer multiple struts to further enhance running.

      Cerebral Palsy

      Footage courtesy of Eireann and her family.

      Young Eireann was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy as a child. She has hemiplegia affecting her left side and Eireann & Paul, our paediatric principal, developed her Paediatric PDE to provide optimal initial contact foot position, fluency through stance and provide propulsion in push-off. To enhance running, a 200mm Category 1 strut was used to optimise energy return for flight phase.

      Peroneal Nerve Palsy

      Footage courtesy of Hugh, his family & the team at Interface Orthotics, Perth WA

      Hugh and Paul have been working together for the past 2 years. After suffering a peroneal nerve palsy, they have been working on trying to improve Hugh's walking fluency and efficiency. With a passion and excellence for high level cricket, the PDE has offered Hugh phenomenal assistance with his running, mobility when batting and running between wickets. 

      Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT)

      Footage courtesy of the client Cesare

      Cesare was diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) as a young adult. The CMT has affected the right and left leg and he has no muscle power in all below-knee groups. He has successfully worn solid carbon fibre Ground Reaction Ankle Foot Orthoses (GRAFO) for the past 20 years and they have supplemented his absent below-knee muscles in all phases of gait. Cesare & Darren, our adult practice principal, have been working on finding the optimal strut stiffness in his bilateral PDE Orthoses to allow maximal walking fluency.

      Polio

      Footage courtesy of the client Lan

      Lan contracted polio as a child in Vietnam. The polio has affected her left leg and she has no muscle power in all below-knee groups. She has successfully worn solid & dynamic carbon fibre Ground Reaction Ankle Foot Orthoses (GRAFO) for the past 20 years and they have supplemented her absent below-knee muscles in all phases of gait. Lan & Darren have been working with each other for 20 years and are testing strut stiffness to allow maximal walking fluency, reduce demand on her knee and hip and ensure safety at all times.

      Stroke

      Footage courtesy of the client Bernard

      Bernard suffered a stroke three years ago which resulted in left hemiplegia.

      He was fitted with a PDE Orthosis to control knee hypertension, prevent drop foot, control knee stability in stance and support the foot/ankle complex.

      Orthopaedic - Chronic Foot/Ankle Pain

      Footage courtesy of the client Daniel

      Daniel suffered a severe foot/ankle fracture while playing for Glenelg in the SANFL. Persistent chronic pain in the ankle joint required off-loading with a PDE Orthosis with BOA closure.

      Partial Foot Amputation

      Footage courtesy of the client Kate

      Kate suffered a partial foot amputation more than 4 years ago which resulted in a loss of forefoot leverage. She was fitted with a PDE Prosthesis to control her hindfoot alignment and provide propulsion with restored forefoot leverage.

      Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis Management

      Footage courtesy of the client Christian

      The PDE Orthosis offers energy storage and return properties for clients with below-knee involvement. The team at NeuroMuscular Orthotics uses the PDE extensively as our tibial member in Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis (KAFO) management for the same benefits of dampening initial contact knee flexion, controlled tibial motion in stance for knee stability and propulsion in terminal stance.

      Stance Control Orthosis Management

      Footage courtesy of the client Ron

      The PDE Orthosis offers energy storage and return properties for clients with below-knee involvement. The team at NeuroMuscular Orthotics uses the PDE extensively as our tibial member in Stance Control Orthoses (SCO) management for the same benefits of dampening initial contact knee flexion, controlled tibial motion in stance for knee stability and propulsion in terminal stance.

    • Technical

      Videos on how to cast & manufacture the PDE Orthosis!

      Casting

      Detailed video on how to cast the PDE Orthosis

      Video footage courtesy of the team at Fabtech Systems.

      Manufacturing

      Detailed video on how to manufacture the PDE Orthosis

      Video footage courtesy of the team at Fabtech Systems.

    • Contact

      Please contact us for further information on the PDE Orthosis.

      1846 Dandenong Road
      Clayton VIC 3168
      Monday - Friday
      9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.
      1300 411 666
      1300 411 666
      Enquiries@neuromuscular-orthotics.com.au
      Submit

    • Connect

      Connect with us on social media!

      Facebook

      Instagram

    © NeuroMuscular Orthotics 2017

    Cookie Use
    We use cookies to ensure a smooth browsing experience. By continuing we assume you accept the use of cookies.
    Learn More