Polyurethanes in Orthotics and Orthopaedics

Polyurethane (PU) materials have found a number of applications in the fields of orthotics and orthopaedics to the benefit of patient care. It is perhaps true to say that this interest in PU's and other materials and techniques, has primarily been due to the employment of bioengineers who have both a basic engineering background as well as a basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology. Thus, there has been a more rapid and direct transfer of ideas and materials from fields outside medicine to specialities such as orthotics and orthopaedics. This paper aims to show some of the non-implantable uses to which PU has been put and perhaps may provide a hint of where further uses of PU may be advantageous. The fields of orthotics and orthopaedics are very closely linked and the borders to them indistinct. Thus no attempt has been made by the author to try to indicate into which of the two these PU applications belong. Each application of PU's is treated under a different heading in no specific order.