FRACTURE REDUCING APPLIANCE FOR THE ARM
United States Patent 3693617
A fracture reducing appliance having a horizontal base, a vertically oriented standard attached to the base, a unitary brace and arm support member, and an expansible and contractible finger trap. The unitary brace and arm support member has a bottom leg attached to the base. Its intermediate section runs vertically parallel to the standard and is fixedly secured thereto. Its non-adjustable arm support section extends from the standard at a right angle positioning it parallel to and directly over the base. An eyelet formed adjacent the top of the standard provides structure for detachably securing the finger trap thereto.
US Patent References:
Fracture reducing device for the arm
Trott - March 1957 - 2783758
Leg tensioning device
Giannestras - July 1968 - 3390675
Orthopedic device
Stryker - July 1964 - 3139884
Surgical traction means
Scholl - November 1956 - 2771876
Fracture reducing device for the arm
Trott - March 1957 - 2783758
Leg tensioning device
Giannestras - July 1968 - 3390675
Orthopedic device
Stryker - July 1964 - 3139884
Surgical traction means
Scholl - November 1956 - 2771876
Application Number:
05/112941
Publication Date:
09/26/1972
Filing Date:
02/05/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
International Classes:
A61B17/88; A61F5/04
Field of Search:
128/84B,84R,83,92A,77
Primary Examiner:
Gaudet, Richard A.
Assistant Examiner:
Yasko J.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A fracture reducing device comprising
2. The fracture reducing device of claim 1 wherein said vertical standard has an eyelet formed in it adjacent its upper end into which one end of said fastening means is detachably secured.
3. The fracture reducing device of claim 1 wherein said vertical standard has a right angularly extending leg at its base, the bottom surface of which is secured to said base and its top surface having the lower leg of the brace secured thereon.
1. A fracture reducing device comprising
2. The fracture reducing device of claim 1 wherein said vertical standard has an eyelet formed in it adjacent its upper end into which one end of said fastening means is detachably secured.
3. The fracture reducing device of claim 1 wherein said vertical standard has a right angularly extending leg at its base, the bottom surface of which is secured to said base and its top surface having the lower leg of the brace secured thereon.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a mechanical appliance used in setting broken bones in the forearm. It accomplishes reduced fractures in the bones of the wrist by the application of controlled traction and countertraction to the forearm of the human body. More specifically the so-called Colles fracture in the bones of the wrist is counteracted by applying the principle of straight traction and countertraction with ulnar deviation and palmar flexion of the wrist which is essential for proper fixation.
In the past the devices used had been extremely complicated in structure, heavy and cumbersome to transport to patient's homes and erect in surgeon's offices and hospital operating rooms and inconvenient to apply. Applicant's own U.S. Pat. No. 2,783,758 eliminated many of these drawbacks but still problems persisted. His own horizontal support arms which were adjustable vertically along the height of the standard did not function properly to support the weight of heavier arms when the vertically positioning thumb screws were merely finger tightened. It would then be necessary to tighten the thumb screws with a tool which proved awkward each time a vertical adjustment of one of the arms was required. Another nagging problem was the ability of the thumb screws to frequently become lost during the course of the appliance's travel from room to room or from its storage position which made the device inoperable and thus useless. Also the thumb screws created a clothing snagging problem for the doctor or his assistant when they were working along the sides or rear of the former devices.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an appliance comprising a minimum number of parts adapted for economical cost of manufacture with no removable hardware which is capable of being mislaid.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a non-adjustable appliance structurally designed to properly hold the weight of heavier human arms in which the operator need make no adjustments thereto when used on different patients.
Another object of the invention is to provide a streamlined designed fracture reducing appliance substantially free from any clothing snagging protrusions around the rear and lateral sides of the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention now requires a minimum number of pieces to be formed for assembly of the fracture reducing appliance. Essentially these are three in number and they constitute the base, the standard, and the unitary brace and arm support member. Assembly is both fast and economical with the resulting structure being free from clothing snagging protrusions along the rear or lateral sides of the appliance. The arm support section and the intermediate section running parallel to the standard are formed substantially at right angles to each other and they are an integral part of the unitary brace and arm support member. The resulting structure produces a greatly strengthened support arm capable of supporting the heaviest of arms yet free from any protruding snag areas. Also the lack of moving parts eliminates the possibility of any of the elements becoming deranged.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the fracture reducing device illustrating a patient's forearm supported in a vertical position and applying traction to the bones;
FIG. 2 is a view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The fracture reducing appliance is generally designated by the numeral 10 and can be best described by referring to the drawings. As seen in FIG. 1, a relatively rigid standard 12 is vertically oriented with its lower leg portion 13 bent horizontally and mounted on a flat rectangular base 14 that may be seated on an operating table or other support. The standard may be constructed from flat aluminum or stainless steel bar stock bent to form the lower horizontal leg portion. A unitary brace and arm support member generally designated 16 of the same type of bar stock material is also provided having a lower horizontal leg portion 17, a brace section 18, a vertical intermediate section 19, and an arm support section 20. The legs 13 and 17 can be welded, riveted or otherwise suitably fastened to the top of the base plate 14. Intermediate section 19 can be secured to standard 12 in a like manner.
The arm support section 20 is formed by bending the bar stock horizontally and then immediately giving it a 90° turn about its axis as at 21. At the outer end of the arm support section, an arm rest area 22 is formed in the shape of a channel as best illustrated in FIG. 2.
In using the fracture reducing appliance the patient to be operated upon is placed in a reclining position since it has been determined that the most convenient method of reducing a fracture of the wrist is by supporting the affected forearm in vertical relationship and applying traction to the hand. This position is illustrated in FIG. 1 with the patient's arm being placed in the channel shaped arm rest area 22. Traction is applied to the thumb of the patient by the use of a contractible cot 23 such as the so-called "Chinese finger trap". The smaller end of the cot or finger-trap may be held in a clip 25 formed with a hole for connection to an S-shaped hook or clevis 26 adapted to hook into an eyelet 27 formed by a bore adjacent to the upper end of the standard. When the cot or finger-trap 25 is expanded by reducing its length and then applied to the thumb and drawn out to extend its length it will bind tightly around to securely grip the thumb for applying traction thereto. It is to be especially noted by reference to the drawings that by applying relatively straight traction through the finger trap to the thumb of the patient the direction of the force exerted thereby draws the thumb in a direction such that the desired palmar flexion of the wrist and ulnar deviation is secured as the hand assumes the offset or inclined relationship illustrated.
With the parts adjusted in this manner the weight of the arm produces an appreciable amount of traction and additional traction may be applied by placing a small sandbag 30 across the anterior surface of the elbow. With a five-pound sandbag used for this purpose actual measurement has demonstrated that approximately 15 pounds of traction is produced which will hold the wrist satisfactorily in flexion with ulnar deviation. Plaster may be applied while the hand is held by the apparatus to produce immobilization and it has been demonstrated that the whole procedure can be accomplished easily by one person with only 10 or 15 minutes of preparation. The plaster may be applied in slab-like layers molded about the wrist and bound by a knitted bandage without interference by the operating parts of the device. Through this simple yet ingenious arrangement of the several members of the device for supporting the forearm in vertical position and applying traction to the thumb, the area of fracture is properly located and the wrist held in immobilization to facilitate reduction of the fracture. The fracture is reduced and maintained until the plaster sets.
It will be observed from the foregoing specification that the present improved apparatus is extremely simple in structure and easy to adjust for performing its required function of applying traction with ulnar deviation and flexion of the wrist most essential for reducing Colles fractures; use being made of the patient's own arm to produce most of the traction without pain or undue discomfort to the patient. The present improved device has been applied successfully in many cases without the need for anesthesia or a sedative. As another advantage of the present device, the area of fracture remains available for post-operative examination with X-rays or fluoroscope while the wrist is still immobilized.
This invention relates to a mechanical appliance used in setting broken bones in the forearm. It accomplishes reduced fractures in the bones of the wrist by the application of controlled traction and countertraction to the forearm of the human body. More specifically the so-called Colles fracture in the bones of the wrist is counteracted by applying the principle of straight traction and countertraction with ulnar deviation and palmar flexion of the wrist which is essential for proper fixation.
In the past the devices used had been extremely complicated in structure, heavy and cumbersome to transport to patient's homes and erect in surgeon's offices and hospital operating rooms and inconvenient to apply. Applicant's own U.S. Pat. No. 2,783,758 eliminated many of these drawbacks but still problems persisted. His own horizontal support arms which were adjustable vertically along the height of the standard did not function properly to support the weight of heavier arms when the vertically positioning thumb screws were merely finger tightened. It would then be necessary to tighten the thumb screws with a tool which proved awkward each time a vertical adjustment of one of the arms was required. Another nagging problem was the ability of the thumb screws to frequently become lost during the course of the appliance's travel from room to room or from its storage position which made the device inoperable and thus useless. Also the thumb screws created a clothing snagging problem for the doctor or his assistant when they were working along the sides or rear of the former devices.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an appliance comprising a minimum number of parts adapted for economical cost of manufacture with no removable hardware which is capable of being mislaid.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a non-adjustable appliance structurally designed to properly hold the weight of heavier human arms in which the operator need make no adjustments thereto when used on different patients.
Another object of the invention is to provide a streamlined designed fracture reducing appliance substantially free from any clothing snagging protrusions around the rear and lateral sides of the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention now requires a minimum number of pieces to be formed for assembly of the fracture reducing appliance. Essentially these are three in number and they constitute the base, the standard, and the unitary brace and arm support member. Assembly is both fast and economical with the resulting structure being free from clothing snagging protrusions along the rear or lateral sides of the appliance. The arm support section and the intermediate section running parallel to the standard are formed substantially at right angles to each other and they are an integral part of the unitary brace and arm support member. The resulting structure produces a greatly strengthened support arm capable of supporting the heaviest of arms yet free from any protruding snag areas. Also the lack of moving parts eliminates the possibility of any of the elements becoming deranged.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the fracture reducing device illustrating a patient's forearm supported in a vertical position and applying traction to the bones;
FIG. 2 is a view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The fracture reducing appliance is generally designated by the numeral 10 and can be best described by referring to the drawings. As seen in FIG. 1, a relatively rigid standard 12 is vertically oriented with its lower leg portion 13 bent horizontally and mounted on a flat rectangular base 14 that may be seated on an operating table or other support. The standard may be constructed from flat aluminum or stainless steel bar stock bent to form the lower horizontal leg portion. A unitary brace and arm support member generally designated 16 of the same type of bar stock material is also provided having a lower horizontal leg portion 17, a brace section 18, a vertical intermediate section 19, and an arm support section 20. The legs 13 and 17 can be welded, riveted or otherwise suitably fastened to the top of the base plate 14. Intermediate section 19 can be secured to standard 12 in a like manner.
The arm support section 20 is formed by bending the bar stock horizontally and then immediately giving it a 90° turn about its axis as at 21. At the outer end of the arm support section, an arm rest area 22 is formed in the shape of a channel as best illustrated in FIG. 2.
In using the fracture reducing appliance the patient to be operated upon is placed in a reclining position since it has been determined that the most convenient method of reducing a fracture of the wrist is by supporting the affected forearm in vertical relationship and applying traction to the hand. This position is illustrated in FIG. 1 with the patient's arm being placed in the channel shaped arm rest area 22. Traction is applied to the thumb of the patient by the use of a contractible cot 23 such as the so-called "Chinese finger trap". The smaller end of the cot or finger-trap may be held in a clip 25 formed with a hole for connection to an S-shaped hook or clevis 26 adapted to hook into an eyelet 27 formed by a bore adjacent to the upper end of the standard. When the cot or finger-trap 25 is expanded by reducing its length and then applied to the thumb and drawn out to extend its length it will bind tightly around to securely grip the thumb for applying traction thereto. It is to be especially noted by reference to the drawings that by applying relatively straight traction through the finger trap to the thumb of the patient the direction of the force exerted thereby draws the thumb in a direction such that the desired palmar flexion of the wrist and ulnar deviation is secured as the hand assumes the offset or inclined relationship illustrated.
With the parts adjusted in this manner the weight of the arm produces an appreciable amount of traction and additional traction may be applied by placing a small sandbag 30 across the anterior surface of the elbow. With a five-pound sandbag used for this purpose actual measurement has demonstrated that approximately 15 pounds of traction is produced which will hold the wrist satisfactorily in flexion with ulnar deviation. Plaster may be applied while the hand is held by the apparatus to produce immobilization and it has been demonstrated that the whole procedure can be accomplished easily by one person with only 10 or 15 minutes of preparation. The plaster may be applied in slab-like layers molded about the wrist and bound by a knitted bandage without interference by the operating parts of the device. Through this simple yet ingenious arrangement of the several members of the device for supporting the forearm in vertical position and applying traction to the thumb, the area of fracture is properly located and the wrist held in immobilization to facilitate reduction of the fracture. The fracture is reduced and maintained until the plaster sets.
It will be observed from the foregoing specification that the present improved apparatus is extremely simple in structure and easy to adjust for performing its required function of applying traction with ulnar deviation and flexion of the wrist most essential for reducing Colles fractures; use being made of the patient's own arm to produce most of the traction without pain or undue discomfort to the patient. The present improved device has been applied successfully in many cases without the need for anesthesia or a sedative. As another advantage of the present device, the area of fracture remains available for post-operative examination with X-rays or fluoroscope while the wrist is still immobilized.