Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

Designation of occupation

Orthopaedic technician (m/f) and truss maker (m/f)

Duration of traineeship

3,5 years

Field of activity

The job of orthopaedic technicians and truss makers is to use mechanical aids (technical supports, prostheses and rehabilitation aids) to treat externally locomotor and postural disorders in humans. The manufacture of these orthopaedic aids is carried out in workshops which are commonly attached to medical supply companies, while measurement of the deformities and casting generally take place in hospital.

Occupational skills

Orthopaedic technicians and truss makers

• advise on treatment with orthopaedic aids;
• provide follow-up care for patients;
• service and repair prostheses, technical supports or rehabilitation aids;
• measure and set deformities, malformations and amputation stumps;
• prepare positive models of body parts and cast parts for prostheses, technical supports and seat shells;
• construct and assemble technical supports and prostheses;
• install and adjust mechanical, hydraulic and electronically controlled components and joints for prostheses and technical supports;
• carry out dynamic and other tests on orthopaedic aids,
• adapt technical supports, prostheses and electronically controlled prostheses to individual requirements;
• set up rehabilitation equipment, finish prefabricated and individually tailored rehabilitation and treatment systems and adapt them to individual requirements.

5. Particular requirements

 
Orthopaedic technicians and truss makers require manual dexterity and technical expertise in the field of mechanics and use of biomechanical, myoelectronic and electronic control systems to enable them to deal with unusual solutions in the design of orthopaedic aids. Since the process of testing and adapting prostheses, technical supports and other orthopaedic aids is carried out directly on the patient, technicians must also have the ability to handle people gently.

Last modified on: July 30, 2007