US2053632A

US2053632A - Fracture reducing frame

Info

Publication number: US2053632A
Application number: US689627A
Authority: US
Inventors: Putney Charles Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-09-15
Filing date: 1933-09-15
Publication date: 1936-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 1953-09-08

Description

Sept. 8, 1936. c, w. P TNEY 2,053,632

FRACTURE REDUCING FRAME Filed Sept. 15, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHARLES w. PUTNEY Sept. c. w. PUTNEY v 2,053,632

FRACTURE REDUCING FRAME I Filed Sept. 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 8, 1936. c w, PUTNEY 2,053,632

FRACTURE REDUCING FRAME Filed Sept. 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 CHARLES W- pvTn/EY.

Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My present invention, in its broad aspect, has to do with improvements in frames for reducin fractures and holding a limb in proper position with the fracture reduced until a permanent dressing, such as a cast, may be applied. Primarily my invention is designed to reduce fractures of the long bones, such as leg and arm bones by means of pull or distention in both directions axially of the broken limb, or in other words reduction of a fracture by extension and counter-extension; and maintenance of the limb in proper position with the fracture reduced during observation under a fluoroscope or the like and application of a permanent dressing, such as a cast or the like.

While in the foregoing. paragraph my frame has been described as particularly applicable to the reduction of fractures of the long bones of the legs and arms; it is by no means limited in use to reduction of fractures in these two members; and it is especially pointed out that my frame does not require for its use any special form of surgical or examining table, but may-.be used in conjunction with any medium which will support the patient, and to that end my frame is supported upon its own legs, and is portable, completely adjustable, and may be taken down and packed up for storage or transportation in a very small size package. I

In addition to the foregoing objects and advantages my frame is simple in construction and very easy to operate. It holds the injured member in the best position for attention, and is not limited in its use to hospitals and the like by the necessity of-having special beds, tables and the like. My frame may be set up and used anywhere the patient maybe found, and may be carried as a part of the equipment of any attending physician who may be called in answer to an emergency. Furthermore, there are no parts to get out of order, and its simplicity reduces its cost to a minimum and eliminates parts which would be liable to accumulate dust and the like.

Other and equally important objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the detailed description of the same proceeds, and in conjunction therewith it is desired to point out that changes of shape, form, size and the like are permissible to meet varying conditions of use, and provided such changes are within the purview of what is hereinafter claimed.

In the drawings wherein is shown the detailed construction of my fracture frame;-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembly including the detachable leg supporting member set up and positioned for use;

Figure 2 is a view of the adjustable and detachable links used in connecting the leg supporting member with the main frame, and also shows in detail my unique type of detachable clamp or connection;

Figure 3 is a detailed side view of the saddle member to hold the uninjured leg pr perly in position;

Figure 4Iis a side view of the main frame part with the pulling elements illustrated in detail;-

the main frame only is usually used' in reducing fractures of the upper extremities or arms;

Figure 5 is a detail view of the type of adjust ing wheel used with my device;

Figure 6 is a view of the foot plate of my main frame;

Figure 7 is a detail view of one of my triangular or double-leg supports, and

Figure 8 is a detail view of the hip or pelvic supporting plate of my auxiliary frame for use in reducing fractures of the lower extremities or legs.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the manner of applying my fracture frame to a patient lying on an operating table to reduce a fracture of the forearm,

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of the manner of applying my fracture frame'to a patient lying on an operating table to reduce a fracture ,of the upper arm or humerus, and

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of the manner of applying my fracture frame to a patient reclining with the-head and shoulders on a table with the hips on the hip rest or pedestal, and the unbroken leg supported on the saddle.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like or similar parts throughout the several views thereof The numeral I) designates the main fram which is formed with two sections (2) and (3).

The section (2) receives the section (3) in telescoping relationship so that the length of the frame is adjustable, and each section has an upright extension (4) extending at substantially At the upper end threads. Each bearing member (6) is designed to receive therein a threaded rod, respectively (8) and (9) which rods are keyed as shown at (I) in Figure for longitudinal movement through the bearing; adjustment of the respective rods through the bearings (6) being effected by the threaded adjusting wheels, respectively (I I) and (I2). The purpose of this construction being that the rods (8) and (9) may be adjusted away or toward each other to reduce or increase the space between them and the like, by turning the wheels (I I) and (I2). Furthermore, the positions of the bearings (6) and consequently the rods may be adjusted vertically prior to application of my frame to the injured limb. The inner end of the rod (8) carries a substantially oval foot plate designated (I3) which terminates in a hooked upper end (I4); the point of connection between the rod (8) and the plate being about two-thirds of the distance toward the hooked end. The end of rod (9) terminates in a hook (I5). Supporting the frame (I) are detachable leg members (I6) made at the proper height for the average surgical table. Each leg member has two angularly disposed leg parts (I6a) and (I6b) and a standard (I 'I) carrying a detachable clamping collar (I8) designed to engage the frame and support the same as shown in Figure 1 as an independent unit adjacent to a bed, or a surgical or examining table or the like on which the patient is disposed when the frame is in use. The detachable clamping collar (I8) which I have chosen to use with the various parts of my invention consists of two semicircular clamping sections (IBa) and (I8b) hinged together as at (I80) and designed to be retained together by a wing-nut screw-shank shackle (l8d) as shown in Figures 2 and 7.

In practice the main frame (I) is especially designed to reduce fractures of the upper extremities or arms. In which case the injured member is disposed between the rods (8) and (9) and secured to hooks (l4) and (|5)suitable straps being used for that purpose or lengths of bandage and the like. The wheels (I I) and (I2) are then turned to obtain extension and counterextenslon, or pulling action in both directions to set the fragments of the injured member and maintain the fracture properly reduced during subsequent examination (as by a fiuoroscope or the like) and application of a permanent dressing such as a cast or splints and bandage or the like.

It will be noted that the frame is fully adjustable in all directions and that it may be readily taken down and packed away in a small space, and also that it is supported on its own legs for use with any suitable table or the like on which the patient is placed. Furthermore, it will be noted that the parts are simple in construction, and there is nothing to get out of order or deranged.

In conjunction with the main frame (I) there is provided an auxiliary or supplementary frame, generally designated by the numeral (20) and which consists of a tube-like part (2|), one end of which is supported by aleg assembly (22) similar to the leg assemblies (I6). However, the screwthreaded standard (23) of the leg assembly (22) carries an adjusting wheel (24) and on its upper end is carried an elliptical or egg shaped .hip rest or pedestal (25) all of which are illustrated in detail in Figure 8. The end of the tube part (2|) has a fitting which receives the standard (23) between the wheel (24) and the hip rest (25), and there is provided a combination setscrew and pulley (I9) the side plates of which are designed to be grasped by the hand to turn 7 the screw part, and the pulley part of which is designed to function as an element of a Buck's extension when fastened to the foot of a bed. The body part is attached to the main frame (I) by an extensible connection (26) including part (26a) threaded into part (26b), and each carrying a. detachable clamping collar (21) similar to clamping collar (I8) except that in this instance one collar (21) is hinged to part (26a) as shown at (28) in Figure 2. In operation the leg assembly (22) is attached to the leg assembly (I6) of the main frame (I) by a connection (29) similar in construction to the above described connection (26). Carried by the body part of the supplementary frame (20) is an adjustable saddle-like member (30) designed to support the uninjured leg, and which is fully shown in Figures 1 and 3.

By reference to Figure 3 it will be noted that the saddle (30) is adjustably retained on the member (2|) by a screw threaded supporting shaft (2| operating in a T-fitting (2l) slidably mounted on the member (2|) and held in fixed position thereon by a set screw (2|) as shown; so that the position of the saddle (30) on the member (2|) may be adjusted as well as its height with respect thereto.

When using my device to reduce a fracture of a lower extremity, or leg, the injured member is positioned and secured for'reduction of the fracture by pulling action or extension and counterextension between the rods (8) and (9) of the main frame (I), the foot of the fractured leg being fastened to foot plate (I3); while the uninjured member is properly positioned and supported upon the supplementary or auxiliary frame (20) with the leg part of the uninjured leg resting in the saddle-like member (30) and the hip and pelvis resting upon the pedestal (25); the chest, shoulders, and head of the patient resting upon an adjacent table or the like; the purpose being to properly position and support both lower extremities while reducing the fractured bone in a convenient and suitable position to apply a cast or other permanent fixation.

Referring to Figure 8 again, it will be noted that the wheel (24) has a set screw (24a); the same being supplied for the purpose of fitting into a. groove in the top of part (22) so that while the wheel (24) may be turned; the two parts will not separate; and part (22) is welded to the leg base (not shown in Figure 8).

To further and more clearly illustrate the manner of applying and operating my fracture frame, Figures 9 to 11 inclusive show the frame applied to a patient to reduce certain specific types of fractures.

In Figure 9 the patient is placed on an operating table and the main frame member applied to reduce a fracture of the forearm, a figure eight bandage (I511) is applied about the elbow and a figure eight bandage (I3a) is applied to the wrist so that the forearm is disposed between members (8) and (9) for reduction. InFigure the frame is applied to reduce a fracture of the upper arm or humerus; the patient reclining upon an operating table with a figure eight bandage I3b) applied to the elbow and attached to member (I 3), while a girdle (I5b) is applied to the chest under the injured arm and attached to member I5) Figure 11 shows my frame applied to reduce a fractured leg. The patient is supported at the head and shoulders on a table and the uninjured leg carried in the saddle (30) a suitable bandage (30a) being used to prevent b y part, and adjustable means carried by the dislodgment. The hips are supported on hip support or pedestal and the foot of the in- J'ured leg attached by a figure eight bandage or other type of bandage (I) to the member (13) while a bandage or girdle (I50) is arranged about the groin and thigh and fastened to member (l5) From the foregoing it is believed that the operation and construction of my invention will be fully understood, but attention is again called to the fact that the parts may be modified to conform to the dictates of varying conditions of practice and the like, and that while my frame has been described'in conjunction with specific operations, its use and adaptability is not thereby to be understood as limited except as may be indicated by the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim: 4

1. A fracture reducing frame comprising an extensible main frame member having upstanding terminal ends substantially at right angles to the main frame member and relatively parallel to each other, an adjustable bearing member carried by each of the end parts of the main frame member, each bearing member carrying a rod member relatively parallel to the main frame member and adjustable in a direction lengthwise of the main frame member thereby exerting a pulling action or extension and counter-extension upon the fractured part when the apparatus is secured to said part.

2. A fracture reducing frame comprising a,

body part having telescoping sections to provide longitudinal adjustment thereof, leg members'detachably engaging the body part to independently support "the same adjacent to a patient to be treated, upstanding terminal end members onthe end members and disposed parallel to the body part for attachment to a fractured member for exerting pulling action thereon and sustaining the injured member in proper position with the fracture reduced for subsequent application of a permanent dressing.

3. A fracture reducing frame comprising a longitudinally adjustable body part, means car-' duced. said latter member having adjustable legs at one end thereof for supporting the same.

4. A fracture reducing frame comprising an ad-' justable body part, adjustable members carried by said body part for engaging an injured limb and exerting sustained pull thereon in both direc tions in line with the fractured bone for reducing the fracture, legs independently supporting said body part from a base, and a member crossing and engaging said body part intermediate its ends and adjustable angularly and longitudinally with respect thereto for supporting the other lim -in proper position to facilitate reduction of the fracture and comfort of the patient, said latter member having legs, and an adjustable connecbody part. CHARLES WALKER PUTNEY.

tion with the