GB2054380A - Stocking for compressing amputated stump - Google Patents

Abstract

A stump-compressing stocking comprises a tapering hose member 8, for example of knitted material, and a rubber waist band 1 which, in use, supports the hose member 8 receiving the stump of an amputated leg. The upper part 6 of the member 8 is cut away in arcuate shape at 7 substantially on the inner side, i.e. adjacent the centre line of the wearer's body. The top free edge of the hose member 8 is secured to the waist band 1 in the zone 3. A longitudinal seam 9 is provided in the member 8 which seam starts from the lowest point 10 of the cutaway portion and extends over the rounded portion of the stump end 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stump-compressing stocking This invention relates to a stump-compressing stocking to be used immediately after leg amputations.

Hitherto the stump end of amputated legs has been tightly wound with elastic bandages, so as to keep to the minimum and ensure the quick dispersion of the oedema inevitably collecting in the stump. The winding exerts a compression on the stump end. Trained personnel can wrap a stump without difficulty, but it takes a relatively long time.

One disadvantage is that the winding always slips out of place or even slips completely off, and therefore ceases to perform its function effectively. This is a problem more particularly when the patient is discharged from the hospital. The patient and his family are hardly able to carry out an accurate stump winding at home. More particularly in the case of elderly patients the necessary winding is sometimes completely omitted, so that oedema re-forms immediately or after some delay, sometimes considerably delaying the provision of a prothesis and therefore rehabilitation.

Up to date no other means have been known which are easy to handle and might encourage the healing process adequately.

The known medical stockings generally used for people whose legs have been amputated are exclusively for the purpose of dressing the stump when the healing treatment has been substantially completed. For the purpose of exerting a general compressive effect on the stump left by the amputation, German Utility Model No. 72 10 511 discloses a stump stocking which is intended for wearers of crural protheses and whose periphery is reduced in the direction of the stump end, starting from the knee area. However, this is also a stump-dressing stocking which makes things easier for the wearer when the prothesis is applied and worn, but is not suitable for any special healing treatment immediately following the amputation.

It is an object of the invention to enable stump compression to be effected immediately after the operation, thereby obviating the necessity of stump winding.

While obviating the disadvantages of the prior art methods, the invention provides a stumpcompressing stocking which fully meets the requirements of smooth healing of the stump.

Accordingly, the present invention consists in a stump-compressing stocking of elastic material, comprising a tapering hose member which terminates at its narrow end in a rounded portion for receiving, in use, the stump of an amputated leg and which terminates at its wider end in a peripheral edge, and a waist band member to which said hose member is attached along part of its peripheral edge, a cutaway being formed on the inner side of the hose member adjacent the attachment zone, a longitudinal seam being provided in the hose member which starts from the lowest point of said cut-away and extends over the rounded portion of the hose.

The present invention also consists in a stumpcompressing stocking of elastic material, whose periphery becomes smaller in the direction of the stump end, characterised in that an upper part of the stocking is cut away in arcuate shape at the centre line of the body and is attached to a waist band, the stump part has a longitudinal seam which starts from the lowest point of the cutaway portion and extends over the rounded portion of the stump end, two openings are provided in the sides of the rounded portion of the stump end, and the width and compressive effect of the stump part is adapted to the degree to which the amputated extremity has healed.

The stump-compressing stocking is advantageously made from elastomeric and textured yarns, the elastomeric yarns being disposed on the outside of the compressing stocking.

The stump-compressing stocking makes stump winding following the operation unnecessary and thus eliminates the risk that the bandage will slip out of place or slip completely off. At the same time a reliable, durable compression is exerted on the stump, more particularly on the stump end. The two openings provided in the sides of the lower portion of the stump-compressing stocking enable drainage hoses to be introduced for the removal of the wound secretion.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate diagrammatically and by way of example an embodiment thereof, and in which:~ Fig. 1 shows the stump-compressing stocking on the body of a wearer, Fig. 2 is a front view of the stump-compressing stocking, and Fig. 3 is an inside view of the stump-compressing stocking, viewed from the centre line of the body.

Fig. 1 shows a stump-compressing stocking for a left thigh, the stocking extending in the form of a substantially conical hose from a waist band 1 which, in use, supports the stocking, as far as a stump end 2 of the thigh. The waist band 1 consists of a known rubber belt, to which the stumpcompressing stocking is attached in the zone 3 by a zig-zag double quilt stitch seam. If it is the right leg which has been amputated, the compressed stocking is sewn on similarly in zone 4. The centre of the waist band 1 advantageously has a velchro closure 5, the adjustment of which enables the stumpcompressing stocking to be adapted to different statures and waist dimensions.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 3, the upper part 6 of the stocking is cut away on the inside in arcuate shape 7 in the direction of the centre line of the body. A seam 9, which starts at the lowest point 10 of the cutaway portion and extends over the rounded portion of the stump end as far as a point 11 at the opposite end of such rounded portion, is provided on the inside of the stocking in the zone of the stump part 8. An opening 12 is provided on both sides in the lower portion of the stocking receiving the rounded stump end.

When the lower extremities are amputated, groups of muscles originally operating in opposite directions on the existing extremity are sewn to one another at their separation ends over the bone end.

The destruction of tissue caused by the inevitably sharp separation causes the emergence of oedema into the intercellular space. The same thing occurs in the zone of undestroyed tissue, due to the change in the circulation conditions, with the emergence of fluid from the blood into the intercellular space. The normal removal of this oedema is at least considerably slowed down by the changed circulation conditions, more particularly in the extremities which lie lower down in relation to the central line of the body, and the stump, more particularly the stump end, is considerably swollen as a result of this collection of fluid. When an amputation is completed, as a rule two drainage hoses are inserted into the wound on the operating table, to ensure that the blood flows away during after-bleeding.For the provision of a prothesis for the stump of the amputation, the stump must be conical, since it must fit into a substantially funnel-shaped stump bed of a prothesis. The stump-compressing stocking is therefore pulled over immediately after the operation, the place of the wound itself still being covered with the necessary dressing.

Drainage hoses are introduced into the stocking first provided through the openings 12 in its lower portion. When the drains have been removed after2 to 3 days, a fresh stump-compressing stocking is drawn on, which already exerts stronger compression at the stump end and from which the drainage openings may be omitted. The strength of compression is prescribed by the doctor and determined by the width of the compressing stocking. Since after it has been produced on a circular knitting machine the stump-compressing stocking is cut in accordance with a particular range of sizes on the basis of the width prescribed by the doctor and sewn together with an interlock seam it has a positive influence on rehabilitation, being adapted to the further reduction in the swelling of the stump and therefore to the degree of healing.

For the knitting of the stump-compressing stocking, produced on circular knitting machines in graduation 16 E, use is made of PU-S 140 den and PA-S-t Nm 100/210texx2. Fortheinsideofthe compressing stocking use is made of PA-S-t, to increase sliding capacity when the stocking is drawn over the stump, while the PU-S producing the com pression is disposed on the outside of the stumpcompressing stocking. The compatibility with the skin and the breathing activity of the stumpcompressing stocking has been ascertained and proved in practice. Advantageously, the stumpcompressing stocking is produced in a relatively dark colour, so as to prevent noticeable staining caused by any wound secretion which may trickle through.

Claims (4)

1. A stump-compressing stocking of elastic material, comprising a tapering hose member which terminates at its narrower end in a rounded portion for receiving, in use, the stump of an amputated leg and which terminates at its wider end in a peripheral edge, and a waist band member to which said hose member is attached along part of its peripheral edge, a cutaway being formed on the inner side of the hose member adjacent the attachment zone, a longitudinal seam being provided in the hose member which starts from the lowest point of said cutaway and extends over the rounded portion of the hose.

2. A stump-compressing stocking of elastic material, whose periphery becomes smaller in the direction of the stump end, characterised in that an upper part of the stocking is cut away in arcuate shape at the centre line of the body and is attached to a waist band, the stump part has a longitudinal seam which starts from the lowest point of the cutaway portion and extends over the rounded portion of the stump end, two openings are provided in the sides of the rounded portion of the stump end, and the width and compressive effect of the stump part is adapted to the degree to which the amputated extremity has healed.

3. A stump-compressing stocking according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stocking is made from elastomeric and textured yarns, the elastomeric yarns being disposed on the outside of the compressing stocking.

4. A stump-compressing stocking, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.