Freyka's pillow.
A common cause of hip dysplasia in infancy is the breech presentation of the fetus in the mother's womb. Soon after birth, a complete examination of the child is carried out. When a pathology is detected, treatment begins immediately. When choosing treatment methods, pediatric orthopedists take into account the degree of inferiority of the hip joint. To treat dysplastic changes in the joints, special devices are used for permanent wear.
One of them is Freika’s pillow (bandage, feather bed, spacers). A soft orthopedic product fixes and holds children's legs bent at the knees in an extended position, ensuring the correct formation of the joints. Using the pillow for several months eliminates pre-luxations, subluxations, and prevents the occurrence of complications associated with dysplasia.
A little history
The Freik pillow was developed by the Austrian orthopedist B. Freik in the last century. The main purpose of such a product is the treatment of hip dislocation in newborns. Initially, such a device was made from eiderdown placed in waterproof fabric. This bandage was stitched several times so that the filler did not get lost.
After some time, orthopedists came to the conclusion that such a design was insufficiently rigid. As a result, other materials began to be used to make Freyk's feather bed.
Contraindications
It is prohibited to use any orthopedic devices without a doctor's prescription. If parents have any suspicions about insufficient examination of the child after birth, they should contact their pediatrician. Self-treatment of non-existent dysplasia can cause curvature of the legs and the development of valgus deformity of the joints. The Frejka pillow is not used in therapy in the following cases:
- pathologies of the skin of a recurrent nature;
- congenital or acquired hip dislocation;
- diseases in which it is impossible to fully spread the baby’s legs to the sides.
The use of a pillow in treatment is refused if the child is individually intolerant to the materials used in its manufacture. Clinically, it manifests itself in the form of an allergic reaction that occurs like urticaria.
In what cases is it prescribed
Freyka's perinka is an orthopedic device. Therefore, it is recommended to use it for:
- subluxation of the femoral head;
- mild dysplasia;
- pre-dislocation of the femoral head.
At the same time, most specialists of a narrow profile claim that such a bandage is useless for dislocations. Orthopedists believe that such a device does not provide the necessary retraction of the legs to the side. As a result, it is difficult to achieve the desired direction of the bones in the joint.
Indications
The leading doctor determines whether the child has indications for wearing an orthopedic pillow. It is prescribed for dysplasia of the pelvic joints, preluxations and subluxations. The disease is diagnosed at the age of 1 month, when the maturity of the structures can already be adequately assessed by symptomatic manifestations.
For therapeutic purposes in case of dislocations, a pillow is pointless. It cannot be the only treatment for a serious illness. Such a device is not able to provide reliable fastening and, accordingly, cannot place the head of the bone in the correct position. But wearing a feather bed can be combined with other measures if there are recommendations from an orthopedist.
Produced by
Freyka's perinka, the photo of which is presented above, is produced not only by foreign manufacturers, but also by domestic prosthetic and orthopedic enterprises. Among such companies, Ortho-Med occupies a leading position. The enterprise is located in Chelyabinsk.
If necessary, such a bandage can be made independently. The most important thing is to know exactly the dimensions of the device. Freyka's perinka should not be too small or too big for the child. It is also necessary to carefully select the material.
Perinka Freyka: dimensions
How to choose a bandage? First of all, you need to decide on the size. Most manufacturers, as well as those who make Freyka's feather bed to order, focus on the distance between the knees when they are abducted to their maximum width in a bent state. This indicator may be:
- 25-26 cm;
- 23-24 cm;
- 21-22 cm;
- 19-20 cm;
- 17-18 cm;
- 15-16 cm;
- 14 cm.
According to these parameters, Freyka's feather bed is made. In addition, when prescribing a bandage, the age of the baby is taken into account. What is Freika's feather duster like? Dimensions may be as follows:
- XS – the bandage is intended for children aged 1 to 6 months;
- S – for children aged 6-12 months;
- M – for children aged 1 to 2 years.
A bandage is very rarely used to treat dysplasia in a one-year-old child. Experts have not yet come to an agreement on this issue. Some believe that Freik's feather dust helps solve the problem. Other orthopedists argue that there are more modern methods of therapy.
Reviews
My daughter was prescribed this device. She was two and a half months old. The child quickly got used to the pillow and stopped noticing it. Wear was 24/7 minus bathing and other hygiene procedures. The therapy gave positive results, the pre-dislocation was corrected. Used it for six months. Now everything is fine, I am very grateful to the orthopedic doctor for prescribing a pillow on time.
Alena, St. Petersburg, 29 years old
Dysplasia of both hip joints was diagnosed. It was possible to wear a pillow only when the child was in a good mood. We had a massage with electrophoresis once a season. When the child was one year old, the structure was removed. It’s easy to get used to the pillow; it’s not that difficult.
Olga, Minsk, 36 years old
First use
Now you know what Freyka's feather duster is. How to wear such a device? It is very important that the first application of the bandage is carried out by an experienced doctor. Only an orthopedist can determine the necessary abduction of the child’s legs. At the same time, parents will be able to understand how to properly fix the splint.
It is worth noting that the use of such a bandage causes many inconveniences. A child with Freyka's feather bed reminds many of a frog or a parachutist. When using the product, the baby's legs spread greatly to the sides. This causes a number of difficulties. It is especially difficult to dress a child. After all, his legs are spread so that the angle at the hip joint is 80˚. In this position, the child's knees remain bent. It is worth considering that the course of therapy can last from 2 to 3 months. All this time, the position of the legs does not change when using the bandage.
content
- What is it prescribed for?
- Pavlik stirrups
- Freyka's pillow
- How long to wear
- Choosing the right size
The exact causes of the pathology are unknown, so parents should especially closely monitor the baby. Doctors identify predisposing factors:
- genetic predisposition (passed more often through the female line);
- excess progesterone in a woman before childbirth (impairs the development of ligaments and muscles in the child);
- limited mobility of the fetus in the uterus due to incorrect position;
- maternal illnesses and negative factors during pregnancy;
- prematurity (tissues have not had time to develop properly).
In 80% of cases, dysplasia occurs in girls. If the mother had problems in childhood, then the child may develop them. Negative factors of the disease, prematurity, and disrupted hormonal levels increase the risk.
How to put on a bandage
To make your child feel comfortable, you need to put the bandage on him correctly:
- Put your baby in clean cotton onesies.
- Spread Freyk's feather bed on the changing table. Place the baby on top. The crotch should be located in the center of the cushion.
- Spread the legs to the required distance until there is a slight springy effect.
- Attach ribbons to the side of the child's waist. In some models, these parts are fixed on the baby's hips.
- Cross the straps and then fasten the bandage.
When putting on for the first time, the minimum angle of spread of the legs should be from 30 to 40 degrees. This figure should be increased gradually.
What difficulties might there be?
Parents should prepare themselves mentally, since using Freik's featherbed requires a certain period of adaptation. At first, it is very uncomfortable for the child to be in the same position for a long time. Therefore, the baby can be very capricious.
During the treatment period, it is very important to follow all the doctor’s recommendations, choose the right clothes for the child, constantly care for his skin, and so on. It is worth noting that the baby’s adaptation period proceeds in different ways and can last from 2 days to a day. It all depends on the character of the child. With patient and proper training of your baby to Freik's feather bed, you can achieve a positive result. After some time, the child begins to take the position of his legs for granted. The most important thing is that parents understand the importance of such therapy. Wearing a bandage for dysplasia gives the baby the opportunity to move freely and independently in the future.
Features of operation
The time to adapt to the innovation depends on the baby’s temperament and well-being. Some need two weeks, others need two days. The most important thing is to be patient. After getting used to it, the child will behave normally.
At first it will be difficult to feed the child, put him to bed, etc.
But all these problems can be solved:
- The child should fall asleep on his back. There are children who like to sleep on their sides and roll over. In this situation, a folded blanket that needs to be placed under your back will help you.
- Feeding can be done in several positions. Let the baby lie on his back, and you sit next to him so that he turns his head to the chest.
- You can sit in the device, if of course your age allows it. Remember that babies sit when they are 5-6 months old.
Recommendations from orthopedists
So, how to choose Freika's feather bed? First of all, you need to decide on the size. In this case, not only the age of the child is taken into account, but also the distance between the knees in the apart position. Only an orthopedist can determine this indicator. When choosing a finished product, you should give preference to those that can be adjusted. Otherwise, the bandage will have to be changed after a few months.
When using such a tire, you should take into account the recommendations of specialists:
- The child should wear light clothing made from natural materials under the pillow or under the straps. It should allow air to pass through and absorb moisture well.
- Before washing the product, you should remove all hard elements. This will avoid mechanical damage to parts.
- It is recommended to wash Freyka's feather bed by hand using detergents that do not cause allergies.
Self-production
If a young mother wants to make a bandage herself, then she can use the services of a professional seamstress or sew the brace herself using a ready-made pattern. But you need to take the child’s measurements correctly so that the finished product fits in size. To do this, measure the length of the distance between the pits under the knees with the baby’s legs apart, as well as the length of the line from the nipples to the middle of the perineum.
Frayka bandage pattern
When to worry
Freyka's perinka, reviews of which are both positive and negative, can greatly bother a child in some situations. If the baby is capricious for a long time and does not calm down even in the mother’s arms, then his legs are strongly retracted to the sides. This bothers the child and causes a feeling of discomfort.
In such situations, it is worth contacting an orthopedist and reducing the abduction of the legs. In this case, consultation with specialists is simply necessary.
In conclusion
Do not forget that the treatment of subluxation, dislocation or pre-luxation of the femoral head is a problem that requires a competent approach. First you need to eliminate painful contractures. In this case, it is necessary to limit movement in the hip joint. For this purpose, a strengthening massage is carried out, as well as exercise therapy. Only after the listed procedures can an orthopedist prescribe the application of a bandage such as Freika's feather bed. It is recommended to practice gradual abduction of the child’s legs to an angle of 80 degrees.
Only such therapy allows you to get a positive result and achieve normal development of the hip joint in the baby. Otherwise, a rather serious complication may develop - aseptic necrosis.
Varieties
Devices can be made from a variety of materials. Plastic, polyurethane, etc. are widely used. Let's consider each type separately.
Perhaps one of the most rigid devices is the orthosis version. The bottom is made of elastic plastic, and its configuration is similar to a saddle. There are straps on the sides, back and front for high-quality fixation.
This is an excellent replacement for gypsum structures. But in mild forms of the disease its use is problematic.
The baby’s body sweats a lot, and the skin doesn’t breathe at all. The limbs in such a “saddle” move apart to the maximum, which is unpleasant and uncomfortable for the child. It usually takes children two weeks to get used to such an innovation. All this time the little one will be extremely restless and harmful.
Today, devices made of polyurethane foam are very popular. The fixation of the legs is maximum. The back part of the design is made of mesh fabric, which eliminates the baby's excessive sweating.
When choosing such a device, carefully review all straps and check their strength. There are modifications in which it is not particularly practical to fix the belts. Try on different designs in the salon.
Combined devices are a device with several stiffeners. The straps are made of durable velcro tape. The device is worn on cotton clothing and is easy to clean and wash. Children usually quickly adapt and begin to crawl and play in such a device without any problems.
Homemade devices can be ordered according to individual preferences. This is a more ideal swaddling option. The sizes will be selected specifically for your baby. But such pillows do not always provide reliable support.