US1577782A - Surgical splint - Google Patents

Description

Mwah 23 1926. 1,577,782

.5. R. ATmNsoN SURGICAL SPLINT Filed Feb. 14, 1925 James /hon.

Patented Mar. 23, 1925.

i UNHTE STTS FMC

SURGICAL SPLINT.

Application filed February 14, 1923. Serial No. 618,981.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns R. ATKINSON, citizen of the Dominion f Cana-da, residing at Vancouver, in the VProvince of British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surgical Splints, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to a splint for a fractured lower limb and is designed to provide such support for the limb that the fracture-d ends may be drawn apart and readily adjusted, duringwhich adjustment free access is affordedto the location of the fracture.

Then both bones of the lower legare fractured and possibly obliquely, the broken ends will, under the tension of the'inuscles, tend to overlap one another, and difficulty is experienced in applying the required tension to bring the fractured ends into their correct relative position without imposing an undesired and objectionable tension on the knee joint, or, when support is afforded from the crotch, without an exceedingly uncom# fortable and painful pressure applied on this part, which is not adapte-d to receive such. vThere is the further disadvantage inboth cases that the leg must be maintained straight at the knee joint. n

In the device, which is the subject of this application, the required resistance for the tension applied to draw the fractured ends of a broken leg to their proper position in relation to oii-e another is imposed on the underside or back of the thigh adjacent the knee oint, the aXis of the thigh being angled to that of the leg to provide a suitable resistance.

The splint frame by which the tension is imposed on the leg and the resistance of that tension distributed, is so designed as to afford free access to the leg at the location of the fracture for an X-ray inspection of it, and for manipulation and bandaging the fracture or for attending to any flesh wound on the leg in the vicinity of the fracture.

The invention is particularly d-escribed in the following specification, reference be-4 ing made to the drawings by which it is Vaccompanied, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the splint showing vits application to the leg of a patient. V

Fig. 2 is a. plan of the splint.

Fig. 3, an end elevation looking in the direction of the narrow 3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4, a sectional elevation on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is apperspective view of the below* the-knee leg band.V

1n these `drawings 2, 3, 4 represent an open rectangular frame composed of longitudinale 2 connected by a cross member 8,

and having upwardly turned ends 4. Each upwardly turned. end 4 is strengthened by acorner brace 5 and between these corner braces one end of the thigh attaching meinber 7 is pivotally mounted at G. rFhe member 7 is shaped to fit against the underside or back of the thigh adjacent the knee, where it is secured by a bandage 8 orV other suitable means. meinber 7 a stay rod 9 extends to the cross portion 3 at the outer end of the rectangular frame. The rod 9 is pin-connected to 7 and 3 'and is provided with a turn-buckle 10 by which it may be lengthened and shortened to vary the inclination of the member 7 in relation to the longitudinals 2 of the rectangular frame.

The provision, through which tension isk directly appli-ed to the leg to draw the fractured ends intoY position, is carried from'this frame 2, 3, 4, 7, 9. It consists of two side rods 11, to one end of each of which is welded or otherwise secured a attenedportion 12 which is inwardly bent at right angles as at 13 to overlap one another.

These overlapping portions 13 are secured together and adjusted in their distance apart by bolts 14 extending across between them. The other end of each ro-d 11 is threaded and provided with nuts 15 by which theyare secured in one of a seri-es of apertures 16 in the upwardly turned ends 4 of the rectangular frame.

The outer ends of these side rods are supported substantially parallel to the sides 2 of the rectangular frame by uprights 17 adj ustably 'secured to the members 2 and having at the upper ends inwardly turned loops 18, in which the rods 11 freely rest.

Between the stirrup-like connected ends 12, 13 of the side rods 11, a laced ankle band 2O is connected by a buckled strap 21, which passes through apertures provided for it in the inwardly bent ends 13. Between the other ends of the rods 11 which are connected to the upwardly turned ends 4, a

From the other end `of vthisV laced leg band 22, adapted to tit the fractured leg immediately below the knee, is connected to each upwardly turned end l by a buckled strap 23 on each side.

Between the side rods ll intermediate the leg band 22 anct ankle band 20, a web 25 of bandage or other suitable tabric is passed, which fabric is adapted to support the leg during and after setting.

ln use, the member 7 is, as shown in Fig. l, firmly bandaged to the lower part ot the thigh with the trame 2, 3, d, 9 and uprights l? connected to it. rilhe ankle Aband 2O and leg band 22 are laced upon the limb, and the side rods ll connected together at their inwardly turned ends i3 are passed through the loops 18 ot the uprights l?, and while the leg band 22 is connected by the straps 23 to the upwardly turned ends fr, the ankle band is connected by the strap 2l to the inwardly bent ends i8 ot the side rods. 1While the intermediate portion ot' the leg, in which is the fracture, is resting in the web 25, the nuts l5 are tiglitend to lengthen the side rods ll and entend the fractured limb to bring the broken ends into the required relationship, during'which adjustment the position oi' the fracture is fully eip sed and accessible for inspection and manipulation.

After setting the splintered leg may be comfortably supported from the bed or sus.- pended trom a bed crane.

It will be noted that the angle at which the axis ot the leg is held in relation to that ot the thigh, may be adjusted by the tarnbuckle l0V to enable the thigh to afford the required resistance to the tension or" the splint.

Attention is also drawn to the tact that although the trame 2, 3, 4; is pivotallv connected at 6 to the thigh member 7, that pivotal connection is only during angular adjustment between the Jframe and thigh meirber. After such adjustment is made the 'trame and thigh member are relatively perinanently fixed as one piece.

Also that the leg band 22 is only designed to relieve the knee joint ot the tensile strain -that would otherwise be imposed on it and to transmit that strain through the straps 23 to the inwardly turned ends l of the :trame through which it is transmitted to the thigh member 7.

The splint is not only an exceedingly convenient one for the operating surgeon, as if Oilers ample facilities 'llor inspection and manipulation of the fractured limb; but it is also an exceedingly comfortable one for the patient. As the splint tirmly attaches the injured leg to the thigh, and to no other part, the patient has freedom of movement and can assume the position that is most comfortable.

Such parts of the splint as are directly connected to the limb are adjustable that it 1st/mee may be adaptable to variation in the size oi the limb it may be required to be used on.

Having now particularly described my invention, l here declare that what l claim as new and desire to be protected. in by Letters Patent, is:

l. A leg splint comprising a rod extending along each side of the leg from adjacent the knee joint to beyond the toot, each rod being inwardly turned beyond the foot and connected to the other, a trame, said trame includingl a portion projecting from4 it on each side oi the knee joint to receive the ends of the side rods, means for eiliecting separate adjustment ot the length of each side rod, means pivotally mounting said frame removably to the lower part ot the thigh adjacent the knee, means on said trame for supporting said rods adjacent the loot and means tor holding said trame adjustably in position.

2. A leg splint comprising aY trame having rip-standing portions adapted to project to each side of the knee joint, roes adjustably secured; in said projecting portions to lie along each side ot' the leg troni adjacent the linee joint to l eyond the toot,'means securing the ends oit said rods to the limb adjacent the toet, means for sustaining said rods above said trame adjacent the toot, a thigh attaching member adapted to be secured on the thigh part ot the limb adjacent the knee, means pivotally mounting said iframe on said thigh attaching member and an adjustable stay rod secured to said thigh member and to said trame for varying its positiony with relation to said thigh attaching member, substantially as shown and described. Y

3. A leg splint, comprising a rod extending along each side ot the leg from adjacent the knee joint to beyond the toot, each rod being inwardly turned beyond the toot and connected to the other, a member adapted for attachment to the lower part of the thigh adjacent the knee, said member having attachments to it which project one on each side of the knee joint to which projections the side rods are adjustably con nected, means tor varying the angle of the projections from the thigh member, means for con ecting the lower part ot thefleg to the inwardly turned ends of the side rods,

vand means for varying the length otl the side rods from the projecting attachment from the thigh member tothe inwardly turned ends of the side rods. y

il. A leg splint, comprising a rod extending along each side oi the leg Yfrom adjacent the knee joint to beyond the toot, each rod being inwardly turned beyond the foot and connected to the other, a member adapted te be applied and secured to the inner side o1 back ot the lower pariJ et the thigh adjacent the knee, a. member pivotally connected t0 icoY one end of this thigh attachment and projecting angularly therefrom on each side of the knee joint, said projecting members being apertured to receive .the ends of the side rods, means for varying the angle of the projecting members in relation to the thigh attachment, means for connecting the lower part of the leg to the inwardly turned ends of the side rods, and means for extending the side rods from the connection to the projections from the thigh attachment.

5. A leg splint, comprising` a member adapted for attachment to the lower part of the back of the thigh, a member pivotally connected to the end of this thigh attachment, which member extends angula-rly npward on each side of the knee joint and lengthwise to approximately the length of the leg, a tie rod pin-connected to the other end of the thigh member and pin-connected to the outer end of the angular projection therefrom, side rods extending from the upward projections on each side of the kneev joint to beyond the foot where their ends are inwardly turned and connected to one another, an ankle band connected to the inwardly turned ends of the .side rods, and means for varying the length of the side rods from the upwardly turned ends of the knee projection to the inwardly turned ends of the side rods.

6. A leg splint, comprising in combination a member adapted for attachment te the thigh adjacent the knee, a light base frame projecting angularly therefrom to approximately the length of the leg and vupwardly y each rod, and means for Varying the height of the lower end of each side rod in its distance from the base frame.

7. A leg splint, comprising a frame eX-` tending along each side of the leg from adjacent the knee joint to adjacent the foot, means for adjnstably connecting one end of this frame to the thigh, means for retaining the thigh connection at any desired angle in relation to the portions which extend along the leg, a rod extending along each side of the leg from the endof said frame adjacent the knee to adjacent the foot, means for connecting one end of each rod to the foot, means for independently adjusting the length of each rod, means for supporting the side rods adjacent the foot to the frame, and means for supporting the leg from the side rods.

In testimony whereof I afX mysignature.

JAMES R. ATKINSON.

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