Moon Boot Fitting

A Moon Boot, also known as a CAM boot, is a carefully designed removable cast, which serves to secure the foot and ankle and aid in rehabilitating certain injuries by offloading pressure and weight through the foot.

Well Heeled Podiatry provides acute lower-limb rehabilitation services, including moon boot purchases, fitting and ongoing services.

Moon boots / CAM boots are appropriate for a range of injuries or conditions that affect the lower limb. The majority of injuries are caused by trauma (i.e. a fall). These injuries commonly include:

• Ankle fractures (i.e. distal fibula fracture)
• Talus fractures
• Calcaneal fractures
• Stress fractures
• Fifth metatarsal fractures
• Navicular fractures
• Cuboid fractures
• Tendon rupture or disruption
• Toe fractures
• Lateral ligament tear or rupture (i.e. high grade sprained ankle)
• Achilles tendon rupture

A moon boot provides immobilisation which is beneficial for the long physiological process of bone healing.

The moon boot immobilises the foot and ankle at an appropriate angle and allows the injury to heal.

Healing of the bone is a complex process which can be simplified as three primary stages:

Stage 1

• This is the inflammatory phase, during which there is acute damage and bleeding.

Stage 2

• Formation of bone callus occurs. During this stage, the bone is quite soft and so the injury is vulnerable. It is important to brace the affected area adequately through this stage.

Stage 3

• Known as the remodelling stage, during which the bone recovers and slowly returns to or near its previous strength and is more tolerable to movement.

It is important to respect each of these stages to avoid prolonging the recovery or creating a lasting deformity in the bone. Your podiatrist will guide you on this.

The healing process would generally take about 6 -8 weeks, depending upon the exact nature of the injury, and assuming the healing process is not compromised by other factors.

Why should I see a podiatrist for moon boot fitting?

• To avoid ill-fitting moon boot, as the wrong moon boot/fitting can cause referred pain in other parts of the body, namely lower back pain.

Do you need a referral?

• No, patients do not require a referral to see us at Well Heeled Podiatry. We also can see patients who are referred to us by their GP.

Is a follow-up required?

• Yes, follow up support will include subsequent appointments with our team, which generally take place weekly for the first few weeks. This will depend upon the individual and the nature of their injury. Please contact your podiatrist for more details.

What will I need for the non-injured foot?

• We often suggest wearing a chunky-soled shoe on the other foot. We can arrange for heel raises to place in this shoe temporarily. A device know as an even-up, can also be used, which slips over the normal shoe in order to better align the client’s hips and even out their gait. This will prevent hip and back pain from a leg length imbalance as the boot is higher than a normal shoe.

Should I clean or wash the boot?

• Washing the liner of the moon boot can be done if obviously soiled or smell. However we do not suggest this be done unless absolutely necessary, as the internal liner is set up in the correct position for the patient.

Can I hire a boot instead of purchasing one?

• Please note that industry best practice indicates that it is not appropriate to hire a moon boot (according to Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Department of Health, Australia). This is because each boot needs to be selected and carefully fitted for the individual.

Can I buy a boot online instead of purchasing one in the clinic?

• Not all moon boots are high-quality products, we do not recommend purchasing moon boots from the internet as it can lead to incorrect sizes and ill-fitting moon boot resulting in poor outcomes.