EVALUATION OF RESULTS OF NON OPERATIVE TREATMENT OF FRACTURE SHAFT OF THE HUMERUS WITH A FUNCTIONAL BRACE

Introduction: Fractures of the humeral shaft account for roughly 3% of all fractures due to fall on the outstretched hand, motor vehicle accidents and direct loads to the arm. The brace effectively compresses the bulky biceps and triceps muscle allowing early shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand motion with nonunion and radial nerve palsy in a signicant percentage of humeral shaft fractures. This study intends to assess the results of non-operative treatment of fracture shaft of the humerus with a functional brace. Materials and Methods: Prospective observational study was conducted in NMCTH, Birgunj among 50 patients from 16 years onwards of age who presented with fracture of humerus shaft. The patients with open fracture, oating elbow, bilateral humeral fracture, polytrauma, pathological fracture, additional injury of the extremities and patients with neurologic and psychiatric disorders were excluded from the study. The patients were treated with close reduction and immobilization in functional humeral cast brace and were followed up in outpatient department basis once a week for the rst four weeks and every four weeks subsequently till fracture united. After removal of brace functional evaluation of results of upper limb was done according to Hunter's criteria. RESULTS: Six patients out of 50 lost to follow up and was removed from nal analysis . Out of 44 cases, mean age of patient was 34.77 year. Most of them 28(64%) were male. RTA was most common mode of injury 24(54%). Most of the patient 26(59%) had rd fracture on non dominant side. Majority of the fractures 24(55%) were in the middle 1/3 . Thirty two cases (72%) attended the hospital within 24 hours of injury. Union was achieved in 41(93%) patients within a mean time of 11.48 weeks. One transverse and two comminuted fractures in middle and distal third of diaphysis did not unite and were treated surgically. According to Hunter's criteria of evaluation of results, 31(75.6%) of united fractures had excellent (G5) and 10(24.4%) had good (G4) results. Restriction of few degrees of terminal range of movements of shoulder abduction and external rotation present initially improved subsequently after physiotherapy. Mean varus angulation in 39 patients at the time of removal of brace was 7.05° and mean valgus angulation in four patients was 6.00°. Mean anterior angulation of 6.85° was present in 21 patients and mean posterior angulation of 7.11° was present in 20 patients at the time of removal of brace. Mean shortening of 6.5 mm was present in 36 patients. The various angulation deformities and shortening at the end of union did not cause functional and cosmetic effect. Conclusion: Fracture shaft of humerus treated by close reduction and functional bracing has good functional outcomes.

Innovative rehabilitative bracing with applied resistance improves walking pattern recovery in the early stages of rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction: a preliminary investigation

Background The use of knee braces early after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a controversial issue. The study preliminarily compares the effect of a traditional brace blocked in knee extension and a new functional brace equipped with a spring resistance on walking and strength performance early after ACL reconstruction performed in the acute/subacute stage. Methods 14 ACL-reconstructed patients wore either a traditional (Control group: CG, 7 subjects) or a new functional brace (Experimental group: EG 7 subjects) until the 30th post-operative day. All patients were tested before surgery (T0), 15, 30, and 60 days after surgery (T1, T2, and T3, respectively). Knee angular displacement and ground reaction forces (GRF) during the stance phase of the gait cycle were analyzed at each session and, at T3, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) for knee flexor/extensor muscles was performed. Limb symmetry indexes (LSI) of GRF and MVIC parameters were calculated. Results At T3, EG showed greater peak knee flexion angle of injured limb compared to CG (41 ± 2° vs 32 ± 1°, p < 0.001). During weight acceptance, a significant increase of anteroposterior GRF peak and vertical impulse from T1 to T3 was observed in the injured limb in EG (p < 0.05) but not in CG (p > 0.05). EG showed a greater side-to-side LSI of weight acceptance peak of anteroposterior GRF at T2 (113 ± 23% vs 69 ± 11%, p < 0.05) and T3 (112 ± 23% vs 84 ± 10%, p < 0.05). Conclusions The preliminary findings from this study indicate that the new functional brace did help in improving gait biomechanical pattern in the first two months after ACL reconstruction compared to a traditional brace locked in knee extension.

Plaster cast versus functional bracing for Achilles tendon rupture: the UKSTAR RCT

Background Achilles tendon rupture affects > 11,000 people each year in the UK, leading to prolonged periods away from work, sports and social activities. Traditionally, the ruptured tendon is held still in a plaster cast for ≥ 8 weeks. Functional bracing is an alternative treatment that allows patients to mobilise earlier, but there is little evidence about how bracing affects patients’ recovery. Objectives To measure the Achilles Tendon Rupture Score, quality of life, complications and resource use of patients receiving non-operative treatment for an Achilles tendon rupture treated with plaster cast compared with those treated with functional bracing. Design This was a multicentre, randomised, pragmatic, two-group superiority trial. Setting The setting was 39 NHS hospitals. Participants A total of 540 adult patients treated non-operatively for Achilles tendon rupture were randomised from July 2016 to May 2018. Exclusion criteria included presenting after 14 days, having had previous rupture and being unable to complete questionnaires. Interventions A total of 266 participants had a plaster cast applied, with their toes initially pointing to the floor. The cast was changed over 8 weeks to bring the foot into a walking position. A total of 274 patients had a functional brace that facilitated immediate weight-bearing. The foot position was adjusted within the brace over the same 8-week period. Main outcome measures Achilles Tendon Rupture Score is patient reported and assesses symptoms and physical activity related to the Achilles tendon (score 0–100, with 100 being the best possible outcome). The secondary outcomes were quality of life, complications and resource use at 8 weeks and at 3, 6 and 9 months. Results Participants had a mean age of 48.7 years, were predominantly male (79%) and had ruptured their tendon during sports (70%). Over 93% of participants completed follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in Achilles Tendon Rupture Score at 9 months post injury (–1.38, 95% confidence interval –4.9 to 2.1). There was a statistically significant difference in Achilles Tendon Rupture Score at 8 weeks post injury in favour of the functional brace group (5.53, 95% confidence interval 2.0 to 9.1), but not at 3 or 6 months post injury. Quality of life showed the same pattern, with a statistically significant difference at 8 weeks post injury but not at later time points. Complication profiles were similar in both groups. Re-rupture of the tendon occurred 17 times in the plaster cast group and 13 times in the functional brace group. There was no difference in resource use. Conclusions This trial provides strong evidence that early weight-bearing in a functional brace provides similar outcomes to traditional plaster casting and is safe for patients receiving non-operative treatment of Achilles tendon rupture. The probability that functional bracing is cost-effective exceeds 95% for the base-case imputed analysis, assuming a cost-effectiveness threshold of £20,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. On average, functional brace is associated with lower costs (–£103, 95% confidence interval –£290 to £84) and more quality-adjusted life-years (0.015, 95% confidence interval –0.0013 to 0.030) than plaster cast. Limitations Some patients declined to participate in the trial, but only a small proportion of these declined because they had a preference for one treatment or another. Overall, 58% of eligible patients agreed to participate, so the participants are broadly representative of the population under investigation. Future work Although the UK Study of Tendo Achilles Rehabilitation provides guidance with regard to early management, rehabilitation following Achilles tendon rupture is prolonged and further research is required to define the optimal mode of rehabilitation after the initial cast/brace has been removed. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN62639639. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 24, No. 8. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Approaches to the technical means of rehabilitation selection using the ICF

The international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF)is a classification of health components, allows to objectively determine the health status of patients, make a forecast of impaired functions and helps to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation activities. The article describes the approach to the choice of technical means of rehabilitation with the help of ICF. UF allows you to objectively determine the health status of patients and to choose technical means of rehabilitation depending on the degree of disability: if an absolute dysfunction (96-100%) - functional beds, anti-bedsore mattress, gel cushion, wheelchair with headrest and armrests, the absorbent means absorbent diaper, chair - chair with sanitary equipment, a rigid splint with fixation of multiple joints, etc.; in severe functional disorders (50-95%) - anti-bedsore mattress, wheelchair with manual drive to move at home, wheelchair with manual drive to move on the street, anti-bedsore pillow, chair-chair with sanitary equipment, adsorbing agents, absorbent diapers, orthopedic shoes with a hard back, hard splint with fixation of several joints, walkers, anti-bedsore pillow, chair - chair with sanitary equipment, absorbent means absorbent diaper, orthopedic shoes with a hard heel, a hard splint with fixation of multiple joints, etc.; at moderate impairments (25-49%) - cane 4-point with a wide base, the axillary crutches with the device anti-skid bandage on the shoulder and the knee joint, the splint on the hand, stopiteration, etc.; in milder disorders (5-24%) - cane single-bearing alternator, the functional brace with shoulder and ankle etc.

Evaluating the Outcome of a New Functional Brace for the Management of Humeral Shaft Fractures

Background: Our practice identified several issues with the commercially available plastic off-the-shelf Sarmiento brace that is used in managing humeral shaft fractures, with regards to comfort, moulding, and ability to hold reduction. A custom-moulded fibreglass brace was developed which was soft padded for comfort, lightweight, and could be adjusted with changes in swelling. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of this new brace. Methods: 16 patients were identified having treatment with the brace from March 2011 to July 2013. Retrospective analysis of medical records and imaging occurred to assess union and angulation. Prospective analysis of patient function was assessed with the CONSTANT, DASH and SPADI Shoulder score. Results: Patients were initially managed with a U-Slab for an average of 26 days. Patients were followed up for an average of 70 days post brace application. 5 patients were lost to follow up. The remaining 11 patients had the brace on for an average of 73 days. In the last follow up, 15 patients had an acceptable anterior/posterior angulation of less than 200 (1 patient - 220), varus/valgus angulation less than 200, and less than 3cm of shortening. 12 patients had radiological evidence of union, with the other 4 demonstrating significant callus. 4 patients were recruited for prospective analysis with DASH, SPADI and CONSTANT shoulder scores, and demonstrated minimal loss of function. There were no complications of bracing treatment. Conclusion: Our new functional brace led to bony union in most patients, and from a clinical perspective, most patients were pain free and had minimal loss of function.