Clients can refer themselves, their children or family members to our clinics. Most of our clients are referred to us by primary medical, therapy and allied health practitioners. We welcome and encourage liaison with your therapy and medical team in relation to splinting goals. Each splint needs to fit into each client’s current therapy programme. Our therapy team take into consideration your current medical and therapy programme when designing or prescribing each splint.

Second Skin holds Neurological Splinting Clinics on a regular basis in each State and Territory throughout Australia and destinations in New Zealand, the UK and Ireland. Click here to see our clinic locations.

For the most successful outcome to be achieved, Second Skin splints must be worn consistently and regularly. Recommended individualised wearing time will be outlined at the first fitting appointment.

Splint-wear needs to become part of your daily routine. It will be easier for you to base your wearing schedule around active daily hours, so that wearing times are consistent every week. Our splints are NOT recommended to be worn at night unless indicated by our therapy team.

Our general recommendation is that Second Skin Splints be worn:

• For Children: 6 - 8 hours, 5 days per week
• For Adults: 8 - 10 hours per day, 5-6 days per week

Be guided by the recommended wearing times outlined in your Individual Goal Book or discussed at the time of fitting your Second Skin splint.

Initial Assessment

Fitting Appointment

SMS or Phonecall Follow Up

Review Consultation

Second Skin splints are generally designed for wear during waking hours and should not be worn overnight unless discussed with a Second Skin Therapist first. Wearing a splint designed for active, functional use overnight may lead to pain, skin integrity issues or disturbances of sleep due to the long periods of immobility that often occur during sleep. Second Skin Splints are generally designed to support movement and facilitate optimal movement patterns while providing support to the muscles and joints.

Some of our splints are designed for overnight use and a Second Skin Therapist will outline the individual wear instructions for this type of splint at your fitting appointment.

We understand that some of our clients have one or several sleeps during the day. For shorter sleep periods in the day (less than 3 hours) Second Skin Splints can remain on if the wearer is comfortable. For a Body Splint the centre front zip can be unzipped if this increases the comfort of the wearer for naps.

Second Skin splints are manufactured to fit to the client but do not utilise a strong compressive element. Due to the circumferential nature of the splints some marking on the skin is expected especially under seams. This marking should fade within four (4) hours. If there are marks that remain on the skin and are visible the next morning, please discontinue the use of the splint until you have spoken with a Second Skin Therapist.

Prolonged marking may occur when the splint is too small; has been donned incorrectly or is incompatible with the current equipment set up.

Dynamic Splints must be washed at least once each week with extra care.

Splints should be hand washed, or placed in a lingerie bag or pillow case and washed on gentle cool cycle in a front loading washing machine. Wash in water not more than 40°C using a mild detergent without bleaching agents. Rinse thoroughly and remove excess water by rolling in a clean dry towel. Dry flat in the shade. Do not tumble dry, iron or dry clean. Do not use fabric softener.

Some fabrics will be affected by oily based creams and lotions. We therefore recommend you use water or silicone based creams and lotions.

Second Skin splints are designed and manufactured on an individual basis, with great care and attention to detail. Our Alteration Policy is designed to ensure that Dynamic Splints remain effective and successful in achieving the goals prescribed. We provide a NO CHARGE alteration service for issues of ill-fitting splints, AT THE TIME THE SPLINTS ARE FITTED. For reasons of hygiene and in compliance with infection control guidelines, we are unable to alter or repair splints once they have been released to you.

Dynamic Splints should be replaced approximately every 12 months due to wear and tear and to accommodate growth and changes in posture and function. Our Dynamic Splints can be expected to accommodate normal and expected weight gain over a 12 month period. Sudden or unexpected weight gain (for example, due to gastrostomy or increased calorie intake) will reduce the life expectancy of the splint and consequently your splint may need the growth release panels adjusted earlier than expected.

Due to weight gain or growth a splint may gradually become too tight. This will be monitored at your review appointment with us. The built in 'growth release panels' on the splint can be adjusted with the assistance of our team. These panels allow the splint to accommodate normal and expected growth and weight gain over the 12 month life expectancy of the splint. If you do not have a review appointment booked and significant, unexpected weight gain or growth has occurred, contact the Second Skin Team immediately.

All Second Skin Splints are customised to accommodate each individual. We include design options such as shaped pouches for gastrostomy and pump sites etc and customised zip designs for catheter and toileting use.

Second Skin splints may be prescribed with an open or closed crotch area, depending on individual need. All splints are designed for maximum comfort. Closed crotch options have full zip access for ease of nappy changing. Some splints are prescribed with fly front openings for bottle or catheter use. Closed crotch options are the design of choice for clients with pelvic asymmetry or instability, those who are seated most of their day, and those who need assistance with toileting. Open crotch designs are used for those with greater independence in toileting, and can be prescribed with zip access when required.

Second Skin splints can be prescribed for clients with skin conditions. Our hydrophobic fabric is the fabric of choice for clients with skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.

Second Skin are guided by the current Epilepsy Australia and Epilepsy Society guidelines for Seizure First Aid when considering splint wear during a seizure.

http://www.epilepsyaustralia.net/seizure-first-aid/

We recommend if the breathing of the person is impaired at any stage during a tonic-clonic seizure the centre front zip of the Second Skin splint be quickly undone without having to remove clothing to loosen the splint around the chest area. This is in line with the recommendation to loosen any tight clothing under Epilepsy Australia’s First Aid for Tonic Clonic Seizures.

Full removal of the splint is difficult without first removing clothing from a person and would potentially interfere with the person’s movements which the Seizure First Aid Plan recommends is not done.

For other types of seizures loosening of tight clothing is not specified as a step to follow. At any time if the person administering First Aid feels the breathing of the person having the seizure is impaired it would be recommended that the splint be loosened. Supervision during seizures is essential; however, the fleeting nature of these seizures does not prevent ongoing splint wear.

It should be noted that for a person using a wheelchair the Epilepsy Australia Seizure First Aid recommends that they are not removed from their wheelchair however please be guided by an individual’s seizure management plan.

In terms of managing heat and seizures this should be considered in terms of the wearer’s regular day. If they are prone to seizures triggered by heat it is recommended that modifications be made, where possible, to the wearer’s environment to prevent situations where they are likely to overheat. i.e., a child attending PE in a wheelchair on a hot day prone to heat induced seizures would not be recommended from a risk management perspective even if not wearing a Second Skin splint. Please contact us at Second Skin if you have further questions.

During the hot summer months some wearers will prefer to modify their hours and don the splint earlier in the day so it can be removed in the heat of the day and the recommended wear hours are still being met.

Minimising clothing over the top of the Second Skin is advisable in the heat. Some clients will choose to wear the patterned torso as a shirt alternative and put shorts or a skirt over the lower half. If temperature regulation is a concern, please discuss with a Second Skin Therapist as there are potentially some modifications possible.

If a client has a torso based feeding tube at the time the splint is measured a pouch with an opening will be fabricated in the splint to ensure the site can be freely accessed. If a client with an existing splint is fitted with a new torso based feeding tube an accessible pouch can generally added into the splint.

If the client is a candidate for a new feeding tube site, please let your therapist know when the splint is measured and provision for the site can be built in to allow easy modification.

Sometimes if a client grows the location of the opening for the feeding tube site is no longer correct. Please contact Second Skin if you are having difficulties accessing your feeding tube while wearing your splint.

At your initial assessment, the Second Skin Therapist will ask about your current equipment and formulate the splint prescription based on this information. Once a splint is fitted, equipment such as lateral supports and headrests on wheelchairs and height of walkers does occasionally need adjusting due to the changes in posture achieved with Second Skin Splints.

We recommend you discuss this with your regular therapist and are happy to contact your therapist with your permission. Please see them within two (2) weeks of your splint fitting for review.

We do not recommend swimming in your Second Skin Splint as the chemicals in pools can breakdown the fabric. The splint will hold water when wet increasing the weight and should be considered if you are going to choose to swim in your splint.