History

The XeroSox^® was invented in 1985 by Dr. Frederick George, a prominent podiatric surgeon. Specializing in sports medicine, treating competitors in various disciplines, every effort was made to reduce the athletes’ post surgical down time for an early return to athletic training. These same techniques also worked well to speed the recovery of patients who weren’t athletes.

A hindrance to speeding recovery was the necessity to keep the bandage or cast clean and dry. Various hydrotherapy methodologies, to prevent swelling and increase joint mobility, were not possible during the most important immediate postoperative period because of the risk of infection if the healing area was contaminated with water.

Just as importantly, although patients were able to remain relatively active and comfortable during the postoperative period, there was a problem with personal hygiene. Not having a regular bath or shower was most unpleasant for patients, and was universally the greatest complaint after surgery. Patients were not happy.

Some patients would shower using plastic trash bags and rubber bands or duct tape to cover up the bandage. Often these would leak, and the resulting infection under these circumstances could be very serious.

Dr. George tested the cast covers available on the market, but they all had the common failing of relying completely on various sealing mechanisms at the tight cuff to prevent leaks. There was no way to verify that a watertight seal was achieved before getting wet, and there was no way to tell if there was a leak. They really weren’t any better than trash bags.

He thought of the idea of sealing the whole bandage or cast, rather than just having a tight cuff. By creating a partial vacuum inside the cast cover, there was no possibility of a leak, because the vacuum required absolute leakproof status.

Moreover, the partial vacuum made the cast cover incredibly secure. You couldn’t even pull it off!

He started making these XeroSox^® (xero=dry, Greek) in the back room of his office, just for his patients. Other doctors wanted them, and so it grew, first under the name George Medical, and then as XeroSox Ltd.

The XeroSox^® became popular because it always worked. It is so securely leakproof that patients can safely shower or bathe, and some people swim, scuba dive, or even surf with it! It also allowed prosthesis wearers to take a shower standing up or play in the surf.