Thermoplastic splints: for children, for the leg or arm

The splint is a product that provides reliable fixation of the joint for quick recovery. A splint for the knee, ankle and hip joints allows you to eliminate movement and keep the limb in the correct position. This orthopedic product is prescribed to patients with limb injuries, neurological diseases and after surgery.

Specialists at the Yusupov Hospital Rehabilitation Center use modern methods to treat diseases and effectively rehabilitate patients. If indicated, rehabilitation doctors will select an orthosis and explain how to properly wear a brace on the knee joint.

Types of tutors

Tutors are systematized according to the following characteristics:

By purpose:
preventive - prevent injuries during heavy physical exertion and during exacerbation of chronic diseases of the joint-ligamentous system (arthrosis, arthritis);
functional - serve to improve the quality of life in the presence of disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
By place of application:
upper limbs - the splint is fixed on the arm or part of it (hand, wrist, elbow joint, forearm, shoulder);
spine - can take the form of corsets, reclinators, head holders, which are used either independently or in combination with fixators on adjacent joints.

How to care

It is necessary to wipe the splint every day with a clean cloth. It is recommended to wash it by hand, with laundry soap or liquid detergent. If severe dirt appears, you need to rub the stain with soap and leave for 15 minutes, then rinse well with water. Do not use stain removers, bleaches, or washing powders.

Attention! When cleaning the product, you need to make sure that there is no allergic reaction to the detergent.

The product must be dried in a horizontal position away from sunlight and heat sources. Do not wash or wring out the splint in a washing machine, as this may lead to deformation and breakage.

Splints on the leg

This type of splints is necessary for fixing the lower extremities in case of neurological diseases, various injuries and after surgery. The design partially or completely fixes the injured leg, ensuring its correct position. Leg braces are divided into several types:

On the knee joint - used for arthrosis, ligament damage, fractures, meniscus, after surgery.
On the hip joint - to maintain the limb in a given position and prevent relapses or complications.
For the entire leg - to fix the lower limb in the required position in case of muscle paralysis and inflammatory pathologies.

Depending on the type of use, splints can be: non-load-bearing (used in a sitting or lying position) or dynamic (for walking).

When, to whom, in what cases is wearing a splint prescribed?

The decision to fix the injured knee joint with a splint is made by a qualified doctor - an orthopedic traumatologist or surgeon. Indications for use are as follows:

acute injuries of the knee, patella, meniscus damage, ligament rupture, fractures, dislocations, operations on the knee joint;
various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, developmental anomalies, deformities;
hemorrhage in the joint, muscle paralysis, myositis - inflammatory damage to the muscles of the lower extremities;
clubfoot, curvature, cerebral palsy.

Having established the need to wear an orthopedic device, the doctor also:

will help you choose the most suitable model that corresponds to the treatment objectives;
choose the right size;
adjusts the splint by assigning an acceptable degree of support;
determine operating conditions and optimal wearing period;
will prescribe a complex of therapeutic exercises to develop the joint.

Purchasing and installing a splint without consultation with a treating specialist is unacceptable. Self-medication of the musculoskeletal system, violation of the wearing regime, non-compliance and non-compliance with medical recommendations can cause significant harm. This threatens not only the lack of a therapeutic effect, but can result in irreversible consequences - progression of the disease, complete immobility of the knee, and ultimately result in disability.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of a knee brace for a child. Children wear them for a long time, not only during the day, but often at night. It must be comfortable, ideally sized and meet all the requirements established for a high-quality, safe and reliable children's orthopedic device:

light weight, strength, rigidity of the product;
base made of elastic, wear-resistant material with a soft, breathable lining;
hypoallergenic, high hygiene;
detachable design, which is quickly and conveniently removed;
easy adjustment and fixation.

Foot splints

The ankle joint constantly experiences severe stress and is often subject to mechanical damage. In case of injury, an ankle splint is used to fix the foot or to eliminate pain that occurs during movement. There are three main types:

dynamic – for everyday wear;
non-load – used during sleep;
foot supports – prevent foot drop and other similar problems.

How to use

It is necessary to put on a rigid retainer taking into account the following recommendations:

before using the product, you need to take a warm bath and massage around the affected joint;
You need to wear a cotton sock under the splint.

While using the splint, you should not apply any creams or lotions to the skin; only after removing the product, it is recommended to wipe the reddened areas of the skin with formic alcohol, first rinse the leg under water and dry it with a towel.

If the disease is mild and movement in the ankle joint is possible, put on the product while standing. It is necessary to work with the foot and knee joint, gradually limiting movements and fastening the brace. If pain appears in the ankle area, you need to loosen the upper part of the product and work with your knee, and then fix the leg again. In case of severe pathologies, the model is put on, working only with the knee, the ankle must remain motionless.

If there is a feeling of numbness, tingling, pain in the leg, and the tips of the fingers turn blue, then the splint is fastened too tightly, it needs to be loosened, otherwise the blood circulation in the leg will be impaired.

The duration of wearing the splint depends on the severity of the disease, on average it is 10-14 days, and during the day it must be regularly removed and massaged, and exercise therapy exercises prescribed by the doctor must be performed. You can keep your leg in a splint for no more than 8 hours, this applies to the period of night sleep.

Splints for the hand

Modern plastic splints ensure immobility of the damaged part of the arm and minimize the occurrence of unpleasant sensations. Depending on the location of the damage, splints come in several types:

on the wrist joint;
on the elbow joint;
on the forearm;
on the wrist joint, which fixes the thumb;
for the whole hand;
on the shoulder;
for the whole hand with thumb fixation.

Some models are equipped with pneumatic splints that provide range of motion correction and joint flexion adjustment.

When to use

Wearing an orthosis is prescribed by a doctor to correct an existing pathological condition, for the comprehensive treatment of injuries. Wear-resistant structures are necessary for the following purposes:

to ensure limb rest, fixation, correction of deformity;
for light massage and maintaining warmth in the joint;
for protection from traumatic actions;
for a tight fit, creating the necessary compression;
for symptomatic treatment, pain relief;
for the correction of contractures in large joints.

By reducing the load on the joint, the inflammatory process is stopped and the necessary conditions are created for the healing of the joint.

No skill is required to put on the splint. Orthopedic correction products are made for people of different ages and sizes. Prescriptions for wearing splints are given by traumatologists, orthopedists, surgeons, and neurologists.

Splints are classified according to the location of damage: for the hip, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist joints, for spinal injuries, for combined damage to several joints.

Splints for cerebral palsy

Splints used for cerebral palsy ensure the correct development of children's joints and help reduce increased skeletal muscle tone. For this problem, splints are used for the following types of joints:

ankle;
knee;
elbow;
wrist

Models designed for the whole hand are also used.

When choosing a splint, you should pay attention to the material from which it is made. It should be light, reliable and comfortable to wear. Models made of gypsum are inexpensive and highly durable, but in other respects they are significantly inferior to orthopedic splints made of thermoplastic.

Modern devices are made from a plaster cast or directly on the damaged area, exactly following the contours of the injured limb. They are easily modeled on the patient’s body and can be corrected during the treatment process. The big advantage of plastic splints is their ability to transmit x-rays, which makes it possible to control the recovery process.

ORTHOPEDIST-TRAUMOTOLOGIST

Popular manufacturing companies

You should not buy a product that is too cheap from an unknown manufacturer; preference should be given to a well-known, trusted company that cares about its reputation and the quality of its products. The products of such companies have certificates of conformity and a registration certificate from the Ministry of Health.

The Orlett brand is one of the most recognizable. This German company is a developer and manufacturer of orthoses made from modern high-quality materials. Their products meet the requirements of both the professional medical community and patients. The KS-601 splint presented in the line of orthoses has the following advantages:

metal stiffeners and non-stretchable cuffs ensure complete fixation of the knee joint;
5 modeled tires are provided for individual adjustment to the leg;
6 back-to-back straps (small sizes have 4 straps) with textile Velcro fastener provide additional support;
The cuffs are made of soft, pleasant to the touch material, suitable for sensitive skin prone to allergic reactions.

Trives is a network of orthopedic salons. The company from St. Petersburg has been producing and selling medical products under its own brand for 20 years.

The T-8506 splint, designed to provide complete fixation and lateral stabilization of the knee joint, consists of the following elements:

5 extended metal tires – 3 at the rear, 2 at the side;
3 panels individually adjusted to the structure of the limb;
belt-tightening systems consisting of 6 tapes – 60 cm, 4 – 50 cm, equipped with Velcro fasteners;
The inner layer is made of terry fabric, suitable for long-term wear.

What is the difference between a splint and an orthosis? Why is it important to distinguish splints from other retainers?

To prevent and treat diseases of the bone joint and deformities of the musculoskeletal system, various orthopedic devices are used to provide the diseased joint with protection, support, fixation and rest. All clamps are conventionally divided into 2 groups:

Bandages are tightly fitting bandages made of elastic knitted fabric. They can be in the form of a primitive fabric knee pad or have polymer stiffeners, hinges, silicone inserts, Velcro straps and other elements that improve fixation. They are used for preventive and therapeutic purposes - they have weak fixing properties, but improve blood circulation, warm, eliminate pain and swelling.
Orthopedic devices (orthoses) are structurally more complex devices for fixation. These are products made of dense, rigid material, combining metal, plastic, leather, fabric and equipped with hinged parts. Orthoses are effective not only for fixation, correction of the limb, unloading the affected joint, but also during the rehabilitation period, because their design provides for the preservation of motor function. This is possible thanks to the adjustment mechanism and gradual increase in the amplitude of movement

A splint is a type of orthosis. Its fundamental difference is that it does not have built-in hinges, and is able to provide the joint with the most rigid fixation up to complete immobilization, i.e. absolute immobility of the damaged area of the leg.