Orthosis Design, Fabrication, and Use With the Medically Complex Infant (Recorded Webinar)

1. Specialized Care of the Medically Complex Infant

Occupational therapists must take into consideration the unique developmental needs of medically complex infants. This chapter provides information on how to identify infant arousal and stress and use that information to guide orthosis interventions, as well as strategies that support neuroprotective care prior to and during orthosis interventions.

2. The Orthosis Assessment

This chapter guides occupational therapists through a specific assessment of a medically complex infant, their family, and their diagnosis to determine safe and effective orthosis interventions along with information on key clinical observations, manual assessment, preterm and term infant developmental considerations, environment, and the family context.

3. Designing an Orthosis for a Medically Complex Infant

This chapter will review the basic design principles of an upper extremity orthosis using the bio-occupational framework for orthotic intervention, followed by instruction on specialized design considerations for the medically complex infant, including anatomical, developmental, medical, and psychosocial considerations.

4. Fabricating an Orthosis for a Medically Complex Infant

This chapter will provide orthosis fabrication steps, strategies, materials, and clinical pearls for this specialized population, including pattern making, use of materials, positioning, strapping, and setting up the environment.

5. The Orthosis Plan

This chapter will guide practitioners to provide orthosis interventions within a family-centered care model, as well as guidelines on safe orthosis wearing schedules, use of a coaching model with caregiver education, and strategies for caregiver collaboration.

6. Question and Answer Session

This chapter is a viewer-submitted question and answer session facilitated by Tymar Fields.