Surgery – Truss – Perineal
Patent
1986-05-14
1987-11-17
Hafer, Robert A.
Surgery
Truss
Perineal
128 87R, 128 87A, 128DIG20, A61F 504, A61F 510
Patent
active
047066580
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention is directed to an improvement of the gloved splint invented by the present inventor and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,218 entitled "GLOVED SPLINT FOR AN ARTHRITIC HAND."
The present invention relates to splints, and more particularly, to splints for use with rheumatoid arthritis stricken hands and for assisting in therapeutic treatment of hands.
The word "arthritis" literally means "inflammation of a joint." Rheumatoid arthritis is the most serious, the most painful and most potentially crippling of the nearly one hundred rheumatic diseases. Deformed hands, twisted legs, stooped shoulders and stiff elbows are often the most miserable signs of the disease. It can strike suddenly and progress rapidly to an acute and seriously damaging stage.
Rheumatoid arthritis usually invades more than one joint. The joint stiffens, swells and becomes tender, eventually making full motion difficult and painful. The aching, soreness and stiffness are typically at their worst when the victim first gets up in the morning.
Rheumatoid inflammation does progressive damage inside the joint. If it is not checked by proper treatment, the following may happen. The space where two bones meet is enclosed in a capsule containing fluid. The capsule has an inner skin called the synovil membrane. Inflammation begins here, swells the membrane and spreads to other parts of the joint system. Outgrowths of inflamed tissue invade the cartilage surrounding the bone ends, eventually eating it away. Finally, scar tissue can form between the bone and sometimes change to bone so that the joint becomes fused, permanently rigid and immovable.
While a joint is undergoing this destruction, muscle contractions can cause grotesque distortions. This is most apparent when the disease attacks the hands. The fingers can become skewed or drawn back and sideways, so that the hand becomes deformed. It is important to understand that this can happen but it can be prevented in most cases with proper treatment before it does happen. The key to success in combatting the effects of rheumatoid arthritis is a treatment program of many parts carried out faithfully over a period of time. Such a program may include medication, exercise, rest, surgery, heat, posture correction, splints and rehabilitation. The purposes of the treatment program are to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and prevent damage to the joints, prevent deformaties and keep the joints movable and functioning properly.
Presently, splints now in use to help prevent grotesque distortions of the hand, are made of plaster of paris or of a high or low temperature thermo plastic. These are generally intended for short periods of use because of the nature of the construction. Moreover, they are inflexible and do not allow any movement of the affected body parts. Accordingly, they cannot be used repetitively by the afflicted person nor do they provide the benefits of exercising the affected joints. Generally, after surgery, specially constructed splints are sometimes applied to the affected joint. These splints are special purpose splints predicated upon the particular needs of the patient; since they are custom made, they are expensive.
Applying or withdrawing heat from an affected joint is often beneficial in alleviating the pain and discomfort attendant the joint.
Therapy of a damaged hand resulting from injury or disease may include splinting of the hand in a predetermined position to render it immobile for defined periods. Other treatment may suggest limited predetermined movement of all or parts of the hand. During the treatment process, progressive positioning of the hand or parts thereof from one position to another may be extremely beneficial commensurate with growth or recuperation of muscle, skin and bone tissues. Such progressive repositioning may be coupled with predeterminable limited flexing of parts of the hand. The application or withdrawal of heat in conjunction with or separate from the above described treatment schedules may be of great recuperative value under cert
REFERENCES:
patent: 4000585 (1977-01-01), Denaro
patent: 4173218 (1979-11-01), Cronin
D'Arrigo Kathleen J.
Hafer Robert A.
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