Orthotics and external prosthetics

Orthoses are external devices that support or correct limb or joint function (ankle, knee, wrist, spine orthoses), while prostheses replace absent limbs (leg, arm, hand prostheses). PU appears in multiple components of these devices: cushions and pads that interface with the user's skin (flexible foams of different densities for pressure distribution), silicone-PU liners that wrap the residual limb in prostheses (impact absorption and protection against friction), molded external surfaces in PU integral skin (durability and appearance), and structural components in custom-thermoformable PU (orthoses made to the patient's measure). Unlike mass-produced orthoses (basic wristbands, belts), specialized medical applications require patient-by-patient customization, making thermoformable PU technologies particularly relevant. Growing with population aging and technological advances making prostheses accessible to more patients.