Allard BOSTON LITE SOFT BODY JACKET User manual

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BOSTON LITE™
MANUAL

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INTRODUCTION
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The Boston LITE™ Soft Body Jacket is an effective means for treating a variety of etiologies. Its use is enhan-
ced when applying the principles of the team approach.
WHAT IT IS
The Boston LITE Soft Body Jacket is a spinal orthosis,
designed to make postural / trunk control more effective and
comfortable for patients who cannot tolerate a rigid orthosis.The
orthosis remains exible while providing support with strategically
placed reinforcements.
The Boston LITE Soft Body Jacket is fabricated with the stan-
dard 1.5mm high density foam liner and 3.0mm high density foam
outershell. Interposed between the two layers of foam are three
1.5mm/2mm reinforcements. The reinforcements supply rigidity to
the orthosis.The Boston Lite orthosis is fabricated with a standard
posterior opening.The Boston Lite is supplied with a removable 3D-
spacer liner. The brace has three Velcro straps and buckles which
are attached to insert nuts in the posterior reinforcements.This
allows the straps and buckles to be easily replaced if required.
INDICATIONS FOR USE
• Neuromuscular Scoliosis
• Cerebral Palsy
• Myelomeningocele
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Postural Positioning
• Improve Seating
• Postoperative protection
• Pain Relief
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
BOSTON LITE™ SOFT BODY JACKET
ADAPTABILITY TO PATIENTS
Due to the exibility of the foam, and the strategically placed reinforcements, the Boston Lite Soft Body Jacket
can be used to treat a variety of etiologies.
ACCEPTABILITY
In order to be effective, a brace must be accepted and worn by the patient. Due to its soft features, edge pres-
sure on the patient is negligible. The Boston LITE external contours are aesthetically pleasing and are generally
accepted by patients and parents. The Boston LITE Soft Body Jacket is lighter in weight than a conventional
TLSO.The addition of a removable 3D spacer liner allows air to circulate around the body, thus providing more
comfort to the wearer.
MATERIALS
The foam inner liner is made of 1.5mm high density thermofoam. The external foam shell is made of 3 mm
high-density thermofoam. The Boston LITE orthosis is exible yet durable. In most cases, the inherent strength
of the material used, together with the reinforcements in the brace, provide sufcient rigidity for support.
Each brace is supplied with a liner made from high-tech 3D spacer material.The liner technology centres on
the 3D construction, which reduces heat build-up, allows consistent air circulation and provides high moisture
transfer.Additional benets include comfort cushioning and shock absorbency with excellent recovery proper-
ties.
The reinforcements have been designed to provide the maximum amount of support whilst allowing areas of
the brace to be removed creating windows to access feeding tubes, surgical hardware or wounds if required.

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MEASURING, FITTING AND FABRICATION
PATIENT EVALUATION BY THE ORTHOTIST
Patient measurement and selection of an appropriate Boston Lite Soft Body Jacket Module.
Fashion stockinette to the appropriate width and length to cover the patient, or use a cast shirt. The stocki-
nette over the underwear preserves the patient’s modesty and provides a sense of security. Eliminate wrinkles
in the stockinette or cast shirt after it is applied to the patient.
Select the module size from the size chart, with reference to
the patient’s data sheet. Refer to size chart. However, it is
important to point out that a “Custom Made” Boston Lite
Soft Body Jacket can be fabricated on request. In these cases,
all measurements on the Universal Spinal Measurement Form
must be recorded.An appropriate size of the 3D spacer liner
will be provided with the Boston Lite Jacket.
The standard sizes have been designed to minimise the num-
ber of custom-made braces needed. Orthotic facilities with
considerable experience in tting the Boston Lite Soft Body
Jackets have found that by carrying a reasonable inventory of
stock modules, they are able to meet all their needs by per-
forming minor adjustments to the standard sizes. Standard
sizes have been found to work best in the Cerebral Palsy
population.
The waist measurement is most important and should be
used rst to determine the proper size. Due to the exibility
of the modules, they can be 2 cm larger or smaller at the in-
ferior and superior borders (i.e. hips smaller while the chest
is larger, or vice versa).
Chest
Hip
Waist

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TRIM LINES
Lines are drawn on the module with a wax pencil or a
whiteboard marker to indicate where the foam is to be
cut away. There are referred to as the trim lines.
STANDARD TRIM LINES
Anterior inferior Trim Lines are kept as low as the patient
can tolerate. The added length below allows for more
growth without replacing the module and prevents the soft
tissues from being pinched between the symphysis pubis
and the brace.The Mid-point should extend over the pubis
when the patient is standing. The trim lines for the thighs
allow just 90˚ of exion for sitting on a rm chair. Depress
the patient’s thigh by inserting one nger between the
brace and the thigh when the patient is sitting in this 90˚
position to determine whether the brace ts property.
See Figure 2.
(The standard trim lines may be altered if more than 90˚
of hip exion is necessary.)
LATERAL INFERIOR
The standard lateral trim line ows from the anterior
inferior line, passing approximately one cm above the top
of the greater trochanter, owing down to the posterior
interior line. See Fig. 3
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

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TRIM LINES
POSTERIOR INFERIOR
The standard posterior inferior trim line extends as
low as possible, but not more than one nger width
from the seat or a rm chair when the patient is sit-
ting with hips exed at 90˚. Establishing this line too
high will result in increased lumbar lordosis and often
unsightly bulges of soft tissues. See Fig. 4
OPENING POSTERIOR:
The width of the opening should not be less than 2
cm or more than 5 cm when the brace is completed
and should be vertical on the patient. See Fig.5
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

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TRIM LINES
ANTERIOR SUPERIOR TRIM LINES
The standard anterior superior trim line originates
2.5 cm below the sternal notch. The trim line ows
into the lateral trim line. See Fig 6.
POSTERIOR SUPERIOR TRIM LINE
The standard posterior superior trim line originates
at the spine of the scapula. The trim line ows into
the lateral trim line. See Fig. 7.
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

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TRIM LINES
LATERAL SUPERIOR TRIM LINE
The standard lateral trim line originates 5 cm below the
level of the axilla. (The patient should have full range of
motion in the arms.) See g.8
Fig. 8

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FABRICATION OF THE BRACE
1. Remove excess foam with scissors or an edge trimmer.
2. Establish smooth owing lines using a belt sander.
Fine sanding is necessary to prevent any nicks,
which can lead to the foam tearing.
See Fig 9, 9A and 9B
Fig. 9 Fig. 9A
Fig. 9B

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FABRICATION OF THE BRACE
3. Attach the buckle and loop using plastic cover with
4mm screws as shown in g 10.
4. Attach velcro strap and plastic cover with 4mm
screw as shown in g 10A.
5. Repeat process for all three straps. See Fig 11.
Trim straps as required, see gure 12.
Fig. 10
Fig. 10A

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Fig. 11
Fig. 12

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The reinforcements have been designed to provide the maximum amount of support whilst allowing
areas of the brace to be removed creating windows to access feeding tubes, surgical hardware or
wounds if required as shown in g 13,13A and 13B.
Fig. 13 Fig. 13A
Fig. 13B

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FITTING OF THE BRACE
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3D SPACER LINER
Open the liner and wrap loosely around torso.Attach the middleVelcro strap and then the top and bottom
Velcro straps.Adjust the straps alternatively until liner is at the required tightness.
THE BOSTON LITE
Open Boston Lite Orthosis and wrap loosely around torso.Align waist rolls (bumps in center of brace) so that
they fall above the hips and below the ribs. Exert medial force on the module with your hands and force down
on the iliac crests.Tighten middle strap rst, then the top and bottom.
Sit the patient upright. The edges of the brace should not be uncomfortable in any area.
The inferior anterior edges of the brace should ow into the patient’s sitting lines at the thigh when they are
exed at 90˚. The inferior posterior edge of the brace should not be touching the rm surface on which the
patient is sitting.The anterior superior edges of the brace should ow into the axilla, as should the posterior
superior edge. Make sure that the edges of the 3D spacer liner are seen all around the whole brace. Remove
the brace from the patient and check if there are any signs of the irritation.

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INSTRUCTIONS
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PATIENT HYGIENE
The Boston LITE Soft Body Jacket should be cleaned daily with soap and water, and thoroughly rinsed, especially
if patients have considerable incontinence, drooling or vesicostomes. A terrycloth towel can be used to dry the
brace.
The spacer liner can be machine washed at 60° and dried overnight.The liner should be put in a washing bag
and the Velcro closed properly. Don´t use a tumbler or a drying cabinet.
SKIN CARE
It is important to prevent skin breakdown, i.e. sore, red raw skin. To protect the skin, the patient should:
1. Bathe daily (bath or shower)
2. Apply rubbing alcohol to all parts of the skin that the brace covers, especially where the skin is pink,
this is done to toughen the skin (alcohol treatments should cease after two weeks)
3. Avoid the use of creams and lotions under the brace – they soften the skin.
4. Observe skin frequently when the brace is rst used, looking for pressure areas.
5. A t-shirt can be worn under the liner.
6. If there is skin breakdown (sore, red, raw skin) the brace must not be re-applied until the skin
heals – one day or more.
The 3D Spacer Liner should always be used together with the brace.The patient can use the liner directly on
the skin or with a Boston T-shirt underneath.
The spacer liner can be machine washed in 60° and dried overnight.The liner should be put in a washing bag
and the Velcro closed properly. Don´t use a tumbler or a drying cabinet.
MEASUREMENTS
Size Chest cm Waist cm Hips cm Item Number
Juvenile
J1 49 40 54 SBBL-15J1
J2 51 42 58 SBBL-15J2
J3 54 45 62 SBBL-15J3
J4 56 47 64 SBBL-15J4
Youth
Y1A 55 51 66 SBBL-15Y1A
Y1 56 46 67 SBBL-15Y1
Y2 60 47 71 SBBL-15Y2
Y2A 62 55 72 SBBL-15Y2A
Y3 63 48 75 SBBL-15Y3
Y3A 69 57 78 SSBL-15Y3A
Y4 64 51 79 SSBL-15Y4
Y4F 66 57 80 SSBL-15Y4F

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For more information please visit www.allarduk.co.uk
or contact us at [email protected].uk.
ABOUT US
Allard Support UK Ltd (previously Boston Brace Europe Ltd), continue to manufacture and
promote the original Boston Brace product range, which provide a proven philosophy based on
the foundation of evidence based medicine and vigorously supported by education and training.
Today,Allard Support UK Ltd supplies the Original Boston product range directly to our custo-
mers in the UK and through our distribution partners in Europe, Japan, Korea, India, and many
other countries.Visit www.allarduk.co.uk for information on distributors and our product range.
December2014 - Allard UK©