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

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.

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 -

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 -

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.