Expert voice: interview with Claire D'Huyvetter, Albatros France.

Albatros France is a family-owned company dedicated to the custom design of orthopedic equipment and appliances for children and adults, with an emphasis on positioning for the disabled. Managing Director Claire D'HUYVETTER has always attached great importance to the comfort and well-being of her patients. In her view, the key to the acceptance of disability inevitably lies in the ability to personalize and customize orthopedic equipment.

U-Exist: Hi Claire, can you tell us about your career and your company?

Claire D'Huyvetter: Albatros France was founded by my parents in 1992. Having always aspired to become an orthoprosthetist, I completed my apprenticeship with the company in 2007. From 2017, I worked as co-manager with my father, and in December 2019, I took over responsibility for the company's General Management. Our expertise encompasses both trunk fittings, including seating and mattresses, as well as mobility devices. We are skilled in both trunk orthotics and general orthopedics, such as scoliosis corsets, support corsets, upper and lower limb orthotics, and much more. Finally, our scope of intervention extends to a wide population, from newborns to the elderly.

UE: How and when did you get to know U-Exist?

CDH: I discovered U-Exist when I attended an ISPO congress in Lyon at the end of 2017. I was immediately attracted by your cheerful, colorful, dynamic booth and your proposal for aesthetic transfers. It was a real change from what we were seeing in the orthopedic landscape, and I liked it enormously. I remember thinking to myself: "at last our patients will have something that's not strictly medical". A few months later, after a few trials, we started working together. Today, 95% of our transfers come from U-Exist.

UE: Do most of your patients now prefer customization?

CDH: Yes, our patients are delighted. We have almost thirty modern, aesthetic transfers that offer very attractive results on both polyethylene and PVC, for seat shells, for example. We also work with other suppliers who are able to personalize each complementary element to the fitting, according to the chosen motif. I have the feeling that we have made significant progress in the aesthetics of our appliances since then. Our aim is to show that disability can be joyful and pretty. Eventually, we'd like to have collections by season, even if the logistics of doing so are less straightforward at the moment. However, we renew our range every year.

EU: Do you think there's a difference between accepting to wear a prosthesis and accepting to wear a custom orthosis?

CDH: I think that when the appliance, whether prosthesis or orthosis, is personalized and to the taste of our patients, acceptance is undeniably easier. Aesthetics in 2023 are almost as important, if not more important, than the functional part of the appliance. If the appliance is aesthetically pleasing, it will be accepted in 90% of cases. In my opinion, you can't do without it.

EU: Why do you think this principle doesn't apply to everyone? Is it necessary to go through a stage of acceptance before considering personalization, or is it the opposite in your opinion?

CDH: In our case, orthotics do indeed differ from prosthetics, because there's no question of acceptance of the loss of a limb involved in positioning and orthotics. However, there is an acceptance of disability, to a greater or lesser extent depending on the individual. An aesthetic chair that appeals to the family, the patient and those around them helps to create a positive atmosphere for positioning and fitting. The aesthetic dimension, even with simple colors, is extremely important. Next, we personalize each element according to need: straps, supports, footrests, armrests, shelf, everything is harmonized with the patient's choice of transfer.

EU: Generally speaking, do you think that patients are sufficiently aware of the issue of personalization?

CDH: No, I don't think so. I think that if the suggestion doesn't come from us, from the medical teams or the people around us, it's not a reflex for the patient. But it can also depend on the type of disability: in cases of purely motor disability, the patient is generally more receptive to the idea, whereas in cases of intellectual disability, it's mainly the families who feel the need. Personalization helps to soften the impact of disability and improve overall well-being. In general, patients are not sufficiently aware of this issue. If the alternative isn't made clear to them, they won't think of it on their own.

EU: What is your opinion on the perception of disability in our society today?

CDH: I believe that we should see more people with hearing aids in society, and personalizing hearing aids promotes their acceptance. It allows you to show it off and display it openly.

The fact that there are more and more fairs dedicated to this across France also contributes to this approach. I hope that the 2024 Paralympic Games will play a role in this direction, by putting the spotlight on disability, even if it doesn't represent the entire population of people with disabilities. This will nevertheless offer opportunities for companies, associations etc. to organize events around it. In 2024, I think that disability will be more present than ever in the media, and that's not just limited to prostheses, but also to chairs and other assistive devices.

EU: What do you think can be done for medical professionals, especially those in rehabilitation? 

CDH : Jthink there's always room for improvement. However, it's also important to take into account the constraints facing orthopedic companies, particularly the prices set by social security. These pricing constraints are significant, and rates have not been adjusted since 2017 despite inflation. Despite this, we have never customized our facilities as much, whether for prostheses or orthoses. We all strive to work on personalization beyond functionality.

I believe thathe majority of orthoprosthetists offer customization. As an orthoprosthetist myself, I find that my colleagues do it systematically. At Albatros, all our teams offer customization for all types of transfers. Even in nursing homes, where wheelchairs were traditionally black, we're seeing progress in this direction.

We are constantly striving to renew our transfer designs, ensuring that we offer something for every age group, from children to teenagers to adults, while keeping our range reasonable. This can sometimes be a challenge, but we strive to meet everyone's needs.