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orthopedic boot filling with water/condensation - how to manage?

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Alcie
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2009
Posts : 5167
Posted 10/1/2016 12:54 AM (GMT -6)
Every day there's a new issue. Tonight I'm up overthinking the condensation in my orthopedic boot.

I took apart the foam liner from the hard shell to see if the foam would be enough support for night because the boot is so uncomfortable in bed. There was a lot of water sloshing about in the shell! The outside of the liner was wet, but not the inside. My foot and it's wrappings and thick sock weren't wet, so I figured it must be condensation. Dr. Google had comments on this issue too.

I left everything out to dry until 2 AM and put the liner back on. I'll try calling in the morning to find out what is the solution for night wear. I'm not! going to be sticking my foot into a bacteria filled front-loading washing machine door gasket for the next month!!

At only 12 days out from major ankle surgery (see my other post), I know I can't just leave the boot off. I only asked about showering, which is OK, but didn't think about night.

I tried my other boot from last year's surgery, but it pinches too hard at the ankle, which is swollen even more now.

Just leaving the boot off overnight isn't going to stop bacteria. I can wash the liner, but what do I use while I do that? Hand sanitizer? Bubble wrap?
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straydog
Forum Moderator
Joined : Feb 2003
Posts : 18873
Posted 10/1/2016 9:31 AM (GMT -6)
Alcie, I know its a weekend but I would call the surgeon's office & leave a message with the answering service for him to call you. Short of going to ER I really just don't know what to say. I hope you can get some answers quick too.
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Alcie
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2009
Posts : 5167
Posted 10/3/2016 3:46 PM (GMT -6)
The manufacturer says they only had one complain on this issue. I suspect nobody looks and they only complain of the smell. I can't imagine I'm the only one they've heard from. I found it online. Actually, smelly boot is noticed quite a lot.

The doc's office staff said I can take the boot off at night. So I will continue to clean it and let it dry. My skin is scaly enough from being in a cast. I don't need stinky too.
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(Seashell)
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2012
Posts : 1080
Posted 10/3/2016 4:59 PM (GMT -6)
Alice:
You can purchase a roll of 2" wide stocking-net at a local pharmacy or likely on Amazon.com.

As a physical therapist, I would routinely source any patient with a removable "walking boot" with a roll of cotton stocking-net to combat perspiration and the sloughing of skin cells. Simply cut a length of stocking-net that is ample to cover your foot and lower leg, leaving extra length at both ends so that you can fold the ends over the edges of the walking boot.

For nighttime, for may people wearing just the bottom shell is often adequate support. You can reinforce that the bottom shell will stay in place by wrapping with a few circumferential lengths of Coban, if you like. Coban® is an elastic bandage without any sticky adhesive. Coban® is available at any pharmacy or on-line on Amazon.

Sprinkling the skin with baby powder is a good way to absorb perspiration and keep the skin from smelling foul. You can also sprinkle with any athlete's fungus powered product. Wet and warm environments are prime for fungal infections. A "walking boot" is such an environment. A prescription for NyStain powered is also good for controlling fungus due to the warm, moist environment. I have an ileostomy and have to be careful to watch for fungal infections under the ostomy wafer.

Get a roll of 2" wide stocking-net. It will serve you well for the problems that you are encountering. Cut the length to be generous enough so that you can wrap both ends over the edges of the walking boot (at the foot/toe and at the upper leg).

Best wishes,
- Karen -
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Alcie
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2009
Posts : 5167
Posted 10/3/2016 7:22 PM (GMT -6)
Karen, thanks for the suggestions. I have some nystatin powder from my colostomy which was reversed.

I'll order some cast stocking. I had one small piece and love it. The nurse said to just wear socks, but they aren't great for flaking skin. I wonder if oiling the dry skin is a good idea?? How about rubbing or trying to wash off the flakes?

My skin isn't wet because I only sweat from the neck up as a symptom of central cord syndrome from breaking my neck 3 years ago. But I don't want to have water soaking in from the outside.

This boot is basically just a foot plate with a couple of uprights at the leg and straps across the foot. It's the most open to the air I've seen - probably the reason for the condensation. Moist air cooling on contact with the cooler foot plate.
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(Seashell)
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2012
Posts : 1080
Posted 10/4/2016 5:23 AM (GMT -6)
Alice:
Yes . . . you can clean the skin with a soft, wet cloth to reduce the skin flaking. You can also apply a gentle skin moisturizer. I would use a moisturizer that is lightweight lotion without perfumes and without a host of additives. Example: A Neutrogena® brand moisturizer or a Cetaphil® brand moisturizer would be good choices.

The flaking of skin is to be expected. It is the skin naturally exfoliating. It is just that you see it more pronounced due to the nature of the surgery and incision and lack of being able to properly clean and care to the area (ex. no bathing or showering).

Anyone who has had a leg or arm cast as a child can remember how gnarly the leg or arm appeared after being in a plaster cast for several month. My leg looked like a scaly fish after being in a long-leg cast for two months when I was younger.

A length of cotton stockinette will really be a more comfortable option for you than a sock. Shame on your physician's office for not providing you with stockinette. That you have been a simple provision for them to have provided you with significant benefit. A big bang positive effect from a small product provision.

Great that you have some NyStain powder. Who knew your prior colostomy would be of value in aiding the skin of your ankle? People with ostomies/stomas are resourceful and good problem-solvers.

Best wishes in your healing,
- Karen -
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Sophiasophia
New Member
Joined : Feb 2020
Posts : 7
Posted 2/7/2020 5:13 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Alcie. I hope you still check this box here. I got your old post when I too looked up whether anyone else noticed that the aircast boot collects water inside the plastic shell! I too was told by company that they had NEVER heard a complaint of this sort before. Can you let me know how you ended up sorting out that problem
My doctor is not happy with me taking off the boot to aereate or dry it. I'm not happy about the daily work or worrying about moving my foot. Thanks.
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Sophiasophia
New Member
Joined : Feb 2020
Posts : 7
Posted 2/9/2020 7:56 AM (GMT -6)
Thank you so much Alcie. Your post was very helpful. That is why I thought you can tell me how you handled your situation (since not many people seem to have seen this problem. Including my doctor and company.)
Yes I am wearing a sock and have the foam lining...the wetness gathers outside the lining as you know. If I leave the condensation going on without drying it up frequently, the foam lining will get wet and eventually my sock or stockinet would get wet etc. I also dont want the rubber black lining where the foot steps to start peeling off with moisture or becoming smelly with humidity.
I'm just surprised that while the doctor and all emphasize that we should keep the boot away from water, it itself procudes water. My doctor doesn't want me to take it off to dry it during the day (because he wants my foot completely immobukized)but then said I can sleep without the boot (I cannot guarantee immobilization there!)

Did you try keeping a layer of a towel near the plastic outer shell or any trick to prevent condensation on plastic shell?

Thanks again.
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Erinzebra
New Member
Joined : Mar 2021
Posts : 1
Posted 3/6/2021 5:43 AM (GMT -6)
I’m having the same problem. So I’m going to try putting a small feminine pad on the bottom of my boot liner so the absorbent side is down. Then I’ll change that a few times a day.
I’m only supposed to take my boot off to bathe so taking it off and washing it is not really an option. But, I’m definitely not going to walk around smelling. I’ll let you know how this works.
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Broken Leg Guy
New Member
Joined : Mar 2021
Posts : 1
Posted 3/12/2021 2:25 PM (GMT -6)
I recently broke my leg and have been in an aircast for 2 weeks.

After about a week, I thought "Oh man, the airbag that pumps up must have had water in it and it burst!"

I still don't understand it. Is it moisture from the air/feet that get trapped in the boot? Or am I sweating through my socks and liner, that then gets trapped in the bottom/back of the boot? As if this liner can both, push through and repel moisture that my socks don't absorb?

I wear "Walking Boot Sock Liner" which never feel wet from foot sweat... yet, this water collects in the bottom/back of my boot.

The science behind what ever is going on is just interesting. Even more interesting, there is no discussion about this online. Like, this is it. This couple of comments over 5 years.

Anyway, I've been using paper powder, because its what I have right now.
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abiezaidy
New Member
Joined : Apr 2021
Posts : 1
Posted 4/2/2021 10:26 AM (GMT -6)
I have the same issue. Moisture accumulates between the liner and the boot itself. I'm assuming that it's condensation since there is no "sweat odor". I take off the boot and liner twice a day and soak it up and wipe out the boot.
I called the doctor's office but couldn'get any help with this. The nurse practitioner didn't know what I was talking about. The moisture even leaks out when I get on my "knee scooter".
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Steffers
New Member
Joined : Aug 2021
Posts : 1
Posted 8/8/2021 3:04 PM (GMT -6)
Wow! I’m having the same issue. I’ve only had the boot on for a week and have noticed a trickle each time I get up and hop away. I took the boot off to wash yesterday and I dried it out, but lo and behold- we got water below the padding again. Not sure where it’s coming from. My foot and the support around it remain completely dry. It’s just so weird.
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NSCali
New Member
Joined : Sep 2021
Posts : 1
Posted 9/15/2021 12:38 AM (GMT -6)
I just received my boot today and took it off for bed and it was soaked. The strangest part is I kept my leg elevated most of the day. My foot and the inside of the liner is bone dry. It's strange that more people haven't reported this issue so we can be taught how to deal with it properly.
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chinmed
New Member
Joined : Nov 2021
Posts : 1
Posted 11/22/2021 12:28 PM (GMT -6)
My teenage son got his boot and the very next night, the boot foam at the bottom was soaked. Dried it with a hair dryer and it was wet again the next night. Seems like this is an issue that should be fixed - not something to be managed by wearer.
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QED04
New Member
Joined : Jan 2022
Posts : 1
Posted 1/2/2022 12:13 PM (GMT -6)
Same here. Two weeks out from foot surgery. I have been in this boot for 5 days. Every day, I am emptying water out of the boot that pools between the liner and the plastic shell. And it smells. I am going to talk to my doctor on Wednesday when I get the stitches out. This can't be sanitary.
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Rozebudz
New Member
Joined : Feb 2022
Posts : 1
Posted 2/15/2022 11:42 AM (GMT -6)
I am also experiencing this issue. What's even more odd is I have a condition that actually prevents my foot from sweating so I know without a doubt the moisture is nit somehow coming from me. The foam pad must be gathering moisture from the air is the only thing I can think of. I keep a shamwow under the liner and change it out a few times a day. It doesn't smell so I think if you catch it early and keep up on cleaning it out you'll avoid it smelling. The moisture is not getting through the liner or sock to my foot so I'm not stressing bacteria. But it is weird and is gross. I've had other air casts and none of them did this so it is definitely this version and the foam pad is the only significant difference.
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Enkaydeegee
New Member
Joined : May 2022
Posts : 1
Posted 5/17/2022 4:59 AM (GMT -6)
I also have moisture in my orthopedic boot. I have been managing it by wiping it dry and airing it out and letting my foot take a break (keeping it still and airing it out too) at least once a day. I am interested in the cause. It seems likely that moisture from the air somehow condenses when I use the pneumatic pump. Does this make sense?
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