First, let’s talk about what a fixed brace is
A brace is a type of brace placed outside the body to restrict a certain movement of the body, thereby assisting the effect of surgical treatment, or directly used for external fixation of non-surgical treatment. At the same time, adding pressure points on the basis of external fixation can become an orthopedic brace for corrective treatment of body deformities.
The function of the brace
① Stabilize joints
For example, the flail knee after polio, the muscles that control the extension and flexion of the knee joint are all paralyzed, the knee joint is soft and unstable, and excessive extension prevents standing. The brace can be used to control the knee joint in a normal straight position to facilitate weight-bearing. In patients with paraplegia of the lower limbs, the knee joint cannot be stabilized in a straight position when standing, and it is easy to bend forward and kneel down. The use of a brace can prevent the knee joint from flexing. Another example is that when the ankle muscles are completely paralyzed, the ankle is soft and flailed. You can also wear a brace connected to the shoe to stabilize the ankle and facilitate standing and walking.
②Protect bone grafts or fractures instead of weight-bearing
For example, after the femoral shaft or tibial shaft has a large segment of bone defect for free bone grafting, in order to ensure the complete survival of the bone graft and prevent the bone graft fracture from occurring before the weight is loaded, the lower limb brace can be used to protect it. This brace can bear weight on the ground. Gravity is transmitted to the ischial tuberosity through the brace, thereby reducing the weight of the femur or tibia. Another example is an ankle injury. Before the fracture is completely healed, it can be protected by a brace.
③Correct the deformity or prevent its aggravation
For example, patients with mild scoliosis below 40° can wear a brace vest to correct the scoliosis and prevent its aggravation. For mild hip dislocation or subluxation, a hip abduction brace can be used to reduce the dislocation. For foot drop, you can use the bracket connected to the shoe to prevent foot drop and so on. In order to relieve headache and flat feet, adding insoles is also a kind of brace.
④Replacement function
For example, when the hand muscles are paralyzed and unable to hold objects, use a brace to hold the wrist in the functional position (dorsiflexion position), and install electrical stimulation on the forearm of the brace to stimulate the contraction of the flexor muscles and restore the grip Features. Some braces are simple in structure. For example, when a finger is missing, a hook or clip fixed on the forearm brace can be used to hold a spoon or knife.
⑤Assist hand function exercises
This type of brace is commonly used. For example, to practice the flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joints and interphalangeal joints, a brace that holds the wrist joint in the dorsal extension position, and an elastic brace that maintains the flexion of the fingers for practicing the straightening of the fingers.
⑥ Make up the length
For example, when a patient with a shortened lower limb is standing and walking, the pelvis must be tilted, and the tilt of the pelvis will cause compensatory bending of the lumbar spine, which can cause low back pain over time. In order to make up for the length of the short limbs, the soles can be heightened. .
⑦ Temporary external fixation
For example, neck circumference should be worn after cervical fusion surgery, waist circumference or vest should be worn after lumbar fusion surgery.
With the popularization of rehabilitation medicine and the continuous advent of low-temperature and high-temperature thermoplastic sheets and resin materials, various braces applying biomechanical design theories are constantly being developed. With their advantages of simple operation and strong plasticity, they can replace gypsum and be widely used in clinical practice. . According to different parts of use, braces can be divided into eight categories: spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle. Among them, knee, shoulder, elbow, and ankle braces are the most widely used. Modern rehabilitation braces can fully meet the different requirements of postoperative immobilization, rehabilitation, functional recovery, control of joint exudation, and proprioception recovery. Commonly used shoulder braces include: universal joint shoulder abduction braces and shoulder braces; elbow braces are divided into dynamic elbow braces, static elbow braces and elbow braces. Ankle braces are based on their The role is divided into fixed, rehabilitation walking position and ankle joint protector. From early postoperative braking, joint function recovery, to control of ankle inversion and valgus during exercise, it can play a good role in treatment and rehabilitation.
When we choose the elbow joint fixation brace, we must choose according to our own situation. Try to choose the one with adjustable length and chuck, which is more helpful for our rehabilitation training.
Post time: Jun-24-2021