A custom-made ankle/foot orthosis for the treatment of patients having plantar
ulcers is disclosed, which comprises a rigid L-shaped support member and a rigid
anterior support shell hingedly articulated to the L-shaped support member. The
plantar portion of the L-shaped member further comprises at least one ulcer-protecting
hollow spatially located for fitted placement in inferior adjacency to a user's
plantar ulcer, thus allowing the user to transfer the user's weight away from the
plantar ulcer and facilitating plantar ulcer treatment. The anterior support shell
is designed for lateral hinged attachment to the L-shaped member to take advantage
of medial tibial flare structure for enhancing the weight-bearing properties of
the disclosed orthosis. A flexible, polyethylene hinge member hingedly attaches
the anterior support shell to the L-shaped member and securing straps securely
attach the anterior support shell in fixed, weight-bearing relation about the proximal,
anterior portion of the user's lower leg.