Craniofacial and Trauma Rehabilitation —
Training activity: 3

Details

Plan, design and manufacture a range of body contour prosthetics to include simple breast or leg contour defects

Type

Developmental training activity (DTA)

Evidence requirements

Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.

Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.

An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.

Considerations

• Patient centred care and support
• Treatment process leading to the soft tissue defect
• Simple functional alternatives to aesthetic prostheses
• Impact of social and medical history on the device design
• Consent process
• Information requirements to complete the device
• Design requirements and options related to anatomical structures
• Psychological and functional nature of the deformity and its impact on the patient
• Patient safety, dignity and confidentiality
• Patient expectations
• Limitation of potentially functional prosthetics
• Material selection and retention, including gel and light weight hollow silicone foam encapsulated silicone
• Manufacture protocols and device risk assessment
• Communication with the patient and family/carers
• Impact of plan/design on patient quality of life
• Use and care instructions

Reflective practice guidance

The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.

Before action

• What specific skills and knowledge are you expected to develop in this activity?
• What do you already understand about body contour defects and prosthetic options?
• What specific aspects of planning, design, and manufacturing these prosthetics do you hope to learn more about?
• Have you reviewed examples of simple breast or leg contour prosthetics?
• Have you discussed the design and manufacturing process with your training officer.
• What potential challenges / limitations do you foresee, such as material selection or achieving a natural contour?

In action

• As you are planning and manufacturing, how are you ensuring the aesthetic outcome aligns with the intended contour? What adjustments are you making based on visual assessment?
• What materials are you using, and how are their properties influencing your design/ manufacturing process? Are you considering alternatives as you proceed.
• During the process, what feedback are you internally providing yourself regarding the shape, size, and symmetry of the prosthetic.
• Have you considered the method of retention that will be used to hold the prosthesis in position

On action

• What did you learn about the considerations for achieving a natural and functional body contour prosthetic?
• Did the challenges you faced reflect the ones you had foreseen?
• What challenges did you face in terms of material selection, mould making, or achieving the desired aesthetic outcome?
• How did this activity improve your understanding of the needs of patients with body contour defects?
• what aspects do you find most challenging and need to focus on developing further.
• What aspects of planning, design, or manufacturing of body contour prosthetics will you focus on developing further? What resources or guidance would be helpful in future cases?
• Has the chosen method of retention affected your design / manufacturing process?

Beyond action

• Having revisited your initial plans and manufacturing process, how does your current understanding of material selection and patient needs compare?
• How has this experience informed your understanding of the psychological factors of altered body image? Have you considered this in subsequent activities or patient interactions?
• How might the skills in design and manufacture developed here be applied to more complex prosthetic cases in the future?

Relevant learning outcomes

#	Outcome
# 1	Outcome Deliver quality patient centred care with the best interests of patients in all elements of practice.
# 2	Outcome Practice in accordance with local and national health and safety policies, regulatory requirements and overall service governance.
# 3	Outcome Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.
# 5	Outcome Practice in partnership with other clinical specialisms as part of a multidisciplinary team and understand their roles and their impact on patient care and pathway.
# 6	Outcome Perform clinical investigations, formulate treatment plans and manufacture medical devices to a safe clinical standard.
# 8	Outcome Select appropriate biomedical materials and components used in the treatment of patients and the manufacture of custom-made medical devices.
# 9	Outcome Assess and interpret patients’ needs to provide customised treatment dependent on medical, physical, social and psychological requirements.