GEL LINERS: WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE DON’T


John W. Michael, M.Ed., C.P.O., F.I.S.P.O, F.A.A.O.P.
President, CPO Services, Inc.
2005 Wild Rose Trail
Portage, IN  46368-1683
312-577-0990 voice/fax


Length of Presentation: 45 minutes

ABSTRACT:

Interest in the use of gel interfaces is growing worldwide, in our never-ending effort to improve the amputee-socket interface.  Although this is not a new concept, objective information on such elastomeric interfaces is surprisingly scant, forcing clinicians to rely primarily on their subjective experiences for guidance.  Patient enthusiasm for “comfort liners” remains high, creating a “mystique” encouraging widespread clinical application of this technology.

This paper will review the history of elastomeric liners and cite pertinent literature dating back to 1971.  Elastomeric liners can be viewed as a continuum from thin constructions that are primarily for suspension to varyious thicker configurations that add shear relief and pressure dissipation characteristics.

Three engineering characteristics are responsible for the suspension and weightbearing characteristics gel liners offer: low elastic modulus, low shear modulus, and constant volume regardless of load.  These objective factors will be summarized, and the resulting clinical implications explained.  Practical methods to minimize the limitations of gel liners will be discussed, including socket design modifications and suspension alternatives.


This presentation will conclude with a brief look at recent objective findings about the impact of gel liners on the activity level of unilateral transtibial amputees.
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