C. Heat-molding the plastic-bucket brace
1. Mark on
the child’s
leg the shape
of the brace.
2. Take
measurements
as shown for
the width
and length
of the brace.
BRACES (CALIPERS) 553
3. Draw an outline on
paper, according to the
measurements and cut
out the pattern.
4. Mark the pattern
on the plastic.
5. Cut out the
pattern with a saw
or strong scissors.
6. Make V-shaped
cuts here to
help bend the
hot plastic
around heel.
7. Heat the oven to at
least 450° F (230° C).
If you cannot measure
or control heat, put
a small piece of
plastic into the oven
and heat it until the
plastic becomes soft
and gooey.
8. Heat the plaster leg cast
in the hot oven for 15 to 20
minutes.
9. Put the hot mold
on the rack.
10. Lightly sprinkle
dry plaster or talc on
a metal sheet or tray.
11. Put the plastic form on tray and
put the tray into the hot oven.
12. Leave it
in oven only
until plastic
becomes
somewhat
flexible.*
13. Take hot plastic
out of oven with
gloves. Bend it
over the hot mold.
14. With strips of
rubber, wrap plastic
tightly to force it
against the mold.
15. And put it back
into oven until plastic
gets softer.*
16. Remove from hot oven
and press forcefully (with
gloves) to fuse overlapped
plastic at heels.
17. Also press in any
hollows around bones and
on bottom of foot. Keep
pressing until plastic
begins to cool and
stiffen.
18. While brace
is cooling, heal
soldering iron.
Heat to moderate
heat—not red hot.
19. Unwrap cloth
from brace while
still warm and use
soldering iron to
smooth and weld
heel joint.
20. When cool, trim
and smooth the edges
ot the brace.
21. Glue or rivet
a strap near the
top of the brace.
For night splints,
add 1 or 2 more
straps at the
ankle and foot.
Pad
well.
For easier
fastening,
use Velcro
straps.
For day use,
or use with
sandals or
shoes, only
the upper
strap is
needed.
Note: Braces made
from plastic buckets
or containers tend
to break fairly easily
if a larger child uses
them for walking.
It is better to use
polypropylene plastic
(see next page).
*Take care not to overheat the plastic, because the plastic used for many buckets and containers tends to
wrinkle like bacon when it gets too hot.
disabled village children