US2187323A - Crutch splint - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16, 1940. w. KELTON ET AL CRUTCH SPLINT Filed March 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS KELTO/V JUL/U6 M4 FISCHER ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1940. w, KELTON ET AL 2,187,323

CRUTCH SILINT Filed March 9, 1956 3 Sheets-Shut 2 ATTORNEY 1 Jan. 16, 1940.

W. KELTON El AL CRUTCH SPLINT Filed March 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 N VEN TOR. ELTON M475? A JUL/U5 M FYJCHER M ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16,

enema SBLINT wane;- mum and Julius W.". Fischer, Seattle, 1 Wash.;said Fischer assignor to said .Kelton jApplicationMarch 9, 1936, Serial No. 67,777

14 Claims. f(o1. 1z s a7) M This invention relates to a crutch splintof a form adapted to be used in the-treatment or re duction of afractured or brokenclavicle or collar bone and of fracturedfor broken rib or ribs. 5' A primary object of thisinvention is to pro vide acrutch s'plint which will maintain the fractured clavicleparts or ribs in a predetermined. position during treatment. Theposition desired during treatment is raisingthe arm and shoulder 10 ;upwardly, holding the arm outwardly and holding s the} arm and shoulder in; a backward @or erect pand'ed position. i s i An important object of the: invention is to position and maintaining the chestgin an ex- 1 lfi provide a crutch splint having a padded crutch member which is pivotally supported forswinging movement forwardly and rearwardly and is further supported for rotative movement on an upright axis and connected at theback of the -,bodywith rotative. positioning means which" holds the clutch member in a correct rotative position and draws and holdsthe shoulder lback asiar as the fracture requires;

,Another object of the invention is to provide.

la"crutch splint which will maintain theiractured end portions of" thecllavicle or rib substantially immovable relative to each other and atthe ame time otherwise afford freedom of movement to the patient.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a crutch splint which is comfortable for the reasonable patient to wear, whichlpermits freeu'se of the. arm on theinjured side, including use. of the fore- H arm and hand and which makes it possible for. be active during the time he is ath patient to wearing the crutch splint.

Other objectsof theinvention are to pr'ovidea crutch splint which is capable of repeated use, a is adjustable and bendable or formable to insure anfaccurate and comfortable int and to fit dif Iferent individuals; is reversable and equally *well adapted for: use; on either the right or left side,

andis easily applied and removed but not readily displaced by normal activity of the patient? X "Another object of the inventionis toprovide a crutch .splintwhich leaves the injured parts openfor'inspection and massaging.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modifiedform of theweightof the injured shoulder or side from *the hip and making it possible to entirely distaken substantially on brokenline 6-G ofF'ig. 5'

pelviclorj hip plate adapted to rest securely on the top portion of the ilium or hipfbone, thus supporting the major portion oi ense the use of shoulder strapsso that i'rac be more practically treated.

tures of both clavicles or ribs on eachside can It is a further object of this invention topicvide a crutch splint which is also useful in the case of fractured ribs. The thing accomplished is the bringingtogether the fractured ends of the ribs, while at the same time relieving the patient chest at, complete rest. The manner in which this is accomplished. is by holding the shoulder a on the injured side upwardly and backwardly, thus increasing the chestcapacity. By holding l the shoulder on the injured side upwardly and backwardly, the chest is expanded (in contrast to collapsed position), which tends .to. move the.

fractured ends of the ribs into alignment, pre vents overlapping of the ends of the ribs, so that 1 chest in a fully expanded condition'prevents movement of the broken parts of the ribs rela.- tive to each other with the breathing of the wearer, which aids in the reduction of thefracture and the comfort of the patient.

The above mentioned general objects of the in-@ vention, together; with others inherent in the the following drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of theinvention, throughoutwhichdrawings like refer-.

ence numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a {rear elevation of a crutch splint constructed "in accordance with this invention as.

it may appearwhen appliedto the patient; M

Fig.2 is a front elevationof the same;

. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view substana .of any pain inbreathing, and which holdsthethe ribs are properly positioned for healing. Furthermore, the crutch splint by holding the.

same are attained by the device illustrated in I Fig. 3 is a side elevation on a larger scale, with parts in section, of a crutch splint and support is for the same constructed in accordance with this invention}. 1 49,

tially on a broken lines-4 of Fig. of a pivot mounting means;

. Fig. 5 is a. detached elevation of an akilla plate embodied inthe invention;

Fig. 6 is. a sectional view of said axillaplate Fig. 7 is anelevation showing a doubleor duplex crutch splint constructed in accordancewitn this inventionia's the same may appear when in Fig. 8 is an elevation of a modified form of crutch splint constructed in accordance with this invention as thesame may appear when in use; i

Fig. 913 an elevation of still anothermodified form of this invention showing the same as it may appear when in use;

' Fig. 10 is ,a detached perspective view of the metal frame portion of a modified form of pelvic bracket constructed in accordance with. this invention;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the bracket illustrated in Fig. 10, showing certain portions of said bracket provided with rubber tube padding means; and p I Fig. 12 is an elevation of a crutch splint employing the bracket shown in Fig. 10, as this splint may appear when in use. c

Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, disclose a preferred embodiment of this invention comprising a semicircularly shaped crutch member formed of an 1 arcuate metal frame l2 embedded in padding material l3, as sponge rubber, and preferably covered with a soft covering M, as of chamois skin or soft leather. sufficiently pliant to permit it to be bent and V shaped to fit different individuals but still retain its shape when in use. This contributes greatly to the comfort of the person wearing the splint.

A downwardly extending straight stem 55* is rigidly secured to the metal frame it. A tubular ,support I6 telescopicallyreceives the lower end of the stem [5. The stem I5 is. externally threaded for the reception of two wing nuts ll which relatively jam and lock against each other and one of which rests on the top end of the tubular sup- I port l6, leaving the stem l5 and crutch member free to move rotatively. The wing nuts ll form a readily operable means for adjusting the position of thecrutch member vertically. The lower end portion of the tubular support H5 is pivotally mounted on a pivot member l8 which is secured to a curved supporting pelvic plate [9. The supporting plate l9 preferably has a pad 29 of soft material secured to the inner or concave side thereof. One preferred means for securing the pad 20 to thecurved supporting plate is is to i provide holes 2| in the plate I9 and sew or lace makes it possible to draw the shoulder'of the .the pad 20 to the plate l9. by cord or thread 22' which is sewed or laced through the pad 28 and through the holes 2!. in the plate.

The padded plate I 9 forms a support which rests on the hip of the patient and provides means from which the crutch member is supported in a desired elevated position. By the arrangement hereinbefore described it will be apparent that the crutch member andpart's l5 and iii are free to pivot backwardly and, forwardly on pivot I8 while the crutch member and stem l5 are free to move rotatively onth'e axis of the stem 15. This pivotal and rotative movement patient back and hold it back.

The padded supporting plate I9 is supported on the hip of the patient by inclined sling strap means 23 which is adjustably secured, as by buckles 24, to the supporting-plate 9 and passes up over a pad 25 on the shoulder onthe opposite side of the patient. A belt strap 26 is. also "adjustably secured to the supporting plate l9, as

' by buckles 21, and passes around the body of the patient at the location of the hips. A pad 28 is preferably provided under the belt strap 26 where it passes around the hip opposite to the one against which the padded plate l9 rests.

A curved axilla plate 29 having a pad 3il secured thereto, see Figs. 1,2, 5 and 6; is provided at the location of the ar'm-pitor axilla of the patient'on the side'opposite to that being treated.

I his axilla plate 29'iscurvedto fit the curva- The metal frame l2 is to draw and hold the patients shoulder back in the correct location to properly position the fractured clavicle or ribs, the axilla plate 29 serving as an anchor means for the tightener straps.

The open top of the crutch member l2l3--M is provided with an adjustable and releasable cross strap 35 which may be buckled across the topof the shoulder to provide means for holding .the crutch means snugly in contact with the shoulder. It will be noted that the crutch member is inclined at an angle to the stem 55 (see Figs. 1 and 2) so that it will conform to the shape of the axilla and shoulder to which it is applied. This angle may be varied, within the limits required for adjustment, by bending the parts I2 and it. This bendability of the crutch member makes it possible to provide much greater comfort for the wearer. The crutch member is relatively bulky especially in the portion which fits into the axilla so that it acts as a fulcrum and holds the tip of the shoulder outwardly enough to insure proper relative longitudinal adjustment of said fractured clavicle portions.

In applying this crutch splint to a patient the crutch member may be fitted into the axilla and the top strap 35 fastened. The padded pelvic plate It may then be adjusted to the hip, the stem l5 fitted into the tubular support Ifiand the sling straps 23 and belt strap26 fastened. The

axilla plate 29 is adjusted to the axilla of the.

opposite arm and the tightener straps 3| and 32 fastened. After the crutch splint has been applied as above described it may be adjusted to properly position a fractured clavicle or ribs by adjusting the wing nuts I! to raise theshoulder to the required height and adjusting the. tightener straps 3i and 32 to draw the shoulder back into the proper position. This adjustment of the tightener straps 3| and 32 requires a loose plate 29, being shaped to conform to the curvature of the body, will remain inthe correct position under the opposite arm andresist slippage due tounequal tension of tightener straps 3tand 32. The thickness and bulk of the crutchmemher acting as a fulcrum under the armon. the injured side W111 hold the tip, of the shoulder; outwardly. This crutch, when properly adjusted.

thus functions efficiently to hold the injured.

shoulder upwardly and backwardly. andoutwardly and to keep the chest fully expanded, thereby meeting all of the requirements necessary. to

properly reduce a clavicle fracture or ribfractures. The padding l3 of the crutch memberis;

soft and yielding, thus eliminating all danger of crutch paralysis.

The plates and 29 are preferably constructed-- of strong light weight non-corrosive material, as

it? it i i .12 187323 i aluminum. or aluminum alloy/, thus reducin'g f the weightofthe apparatus toa minimum.

. sling straps 39 and belt straps 40. "Only one belt proper positions. The splint shown inFig. '7 is ,.;..particularly usefulin cases of rib fractures on both sides of apa'tient. The operation of the splintshown in F g '7 is substantially thesame I as the operation of -'the splint shown in Figs. 1

to fi, exceptthat the device shown in Fig. 7 supports both shoulders.

embodying a crutch member 53, supporting means 44!, pelvictplateyfl. sling strap; means 46 and belt means" all, similar to the corresponding fparts hereinbefore described and illustrated in WEigsgl to 6. aIn thismodificationotf this invene tion, a shoulder ring-48 isprovided to slip on over the arm andencircle the shoulder opposite to the injuredshoulderxof the patient." A pad "may be ,used inconnection with this shoulder ring 48. 'Anadjustableconnector, in the nature of a rigid tubular support 50receiving a threadedstem 5| connects one .armiiof the crutch member 43 1 with i the. .shoulder ring 48,- The stem 5| is threaded through a nut 52 which is rotatively connected .5 with the endportion of the tubular support5|| in such a manner that the overall length of the connector formed by parts 50 and 5| may be increased or decreased by turning the nut 52.

.Two pivot members. 53 and 54 connect the re--. spective outer end portions of the tubular support50 and threaded stem with the shoulder ring 48 and crutch member 43. By adjusting the nut 52 on the connecting means 5|l ---5|, the crutch member 43 may be moved rotatively so as 5 to hold the injured shoulder back in proper position. The operation of the splint device shown inFig. 8 is substantially the same as the operationof the device shown in Figs. 1 to 6 in so far l as supporting the shoulder and ribs is concerned.

0. Fig. 9 shows stilllanother modifled iorm of the invention in which a crutch member 55 is connected by a pivot 56 with a transversesupporting member-51. Themember 51 is adjustably connected with another transverse support- 5 ing member 58 as by bolts 59 adjustable into different holes 60. @I'hemember 5 8is rigidwith an upright supporting memberxfil which has a slot 62 and is adjustably connected by thumb screws 63 with an upright rigid platevmember 64. [The upright plate member 64 is positioned medially of ithe back ofthe patient and is secured to a metallic beltmember 65 which extends aroundthe hips of the patient. Padding means 66 is preferably provided inside the plate 54 and metallic 'belt member. 65. A. sling strap strapis shown but it is understood thatthere is' a" similar 'beltstrap at the other side. The rear arms orforks of the two crutch members are connected with each'other"by-a transverse strap ..,4 |fwhichis adjustableby buckles 42. By tension ing therearstrap fl the crutch member 36 may berotatedlanyfldesired amount on their uprightf axes todraw the shoulders rearwardly into their Fig.8 shows a modification oi the invention.

61 issecured to the upper endof the upright plate member 64 and extends over the-shoulder:

the patient as indicated by dotted lines.

sling strap aids in preventing the belt 65. from slipping down. A tightenerstrap 68 adjustably cozineets'ithe-rear arm of the crutch member wit'n'an axillaplate 69 positioned under'thd" opposite arm of the patient, providing means formovingthe crutch member 55 rotatively onl:

. of the patient opposite to thatbeing treated and? may-connect with thebelt 65 at the front er thepivot 56 to draw the shoulder back into correct position. crutch member 55 is had by means ofthumb screws 63 operating in slot 62. The adjustment afiorded by bolts 59in holes takes care of- Vertical adjustment of the.

individuals of differentsize and also makes it possible to exert an outward thrust on the shouljder and upper arm to obtain a desiredfposi tioningof the fracturedportions of a clavicle or e T3 ribs. i l

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 we have showna modified form of hip orpelvic support which isa'dapted to suDDOrt a crutch member solely from the j hips, making it possible to dispense with diagonal shoulder straps employed in the devices shown inFigs. 1 to 9, inclusive. Dispensing with the shoulder straps and taking the load entirely oif 10, 11 and 12 especially desirable in cases of fractures on both sides of a patient. The distinctivefeatures of the device showninFigs. i

10, 11 and 12 reside in the provision of a different type of hip or pelvic support adapted to be supported on the hip bone or ilium and in the provision of universal joint means connecting said pelvic support with upright supporting means by which a crutch member is supported. This pelvic support comprises a metal frame capable of being bent or formed so "as to best i of theshoul'ders makes the splintshown in Figs.

fit thebodyandmostcomfortably and eiiiciently support, the load. "I'hispelvic support embodies an upper curved member Hland a, lower curved member 1|" connected with each other at the ends by upright portions 12 and connected. to-

gether substantially midway between the two ends by a generally upright member 13 which is secured to,and extends substantially verti-I cally from, the lower curved member H and is thence curved inwardly and secured to the upper curved member 10. When this pelvic support is applied to a person the upper curved member I0 is pressed against and due to its small cross sectional area depresses the yielding flesh portions of the abdomen just above the hips and rests upon the crest of the ilium ",indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 12. The lower curved member 1| rests against the hip of the wearer.

It is to be noted that this lower curved member isdeeperyand extends farther outwardly than the up'per curved member 10. The member 13 extends outwardly from the upper curved member 10 clear of thehip and thence downwardly to the lower curved member H. Belt means u connected with members 12, holds the pelvic support .in place with the upper curved member 10 resting on the crest of the ilium 14 so that a load may be comfortably and firmly supported. Preferablypadding means in the nature of rubber tubes 8| are provided on the upper and Adjustable upright supporting means 16 is .pivotally con-' nected with the member 13 of the pelvic support by a ball and socket or universal joint means lowercurvedmembers Ill and ll.

11; A; crutch member lfi isg supported by the;

supporting means 16; Tightener belt, meansgJQ,

connectedwith the, crutch member lfigand with; anaxilla plate 80; is usedto adjust the crutch 4;. member 18 ,rotatively. No shoulder strapsare used and the weight is comfortably supported,

from the hip of the patient. The ball ,andisocket joint means-llrprovides a maximum freedom al-j lowing both the pelvic support and the crutch Qsmember to fit the body of the patient without be. no fracture whatever, but nevertheless thedevice is adapted to support the shoulders; andthe ribs. sov that there is no dropping, of the shoulder'and the ribs are prevented from cola siilapsing upon the lungs and prevent the normal operation thereof. Obviously, changes maybe made in the-forms,

dimensions and arrangement of the parts of this invention, without departingfrom the: principle i-ithereof; the above setting forth only preferred 'forms of embodiment. a Q We claim: i

1. Acrutch splint embodying, a pelvic support;

a vertically adjustable rod supporting-l means amounted on saidsupport and extendingupwardly therefrom; a crutch member carried on the upper end portion of said rod supporting means, said crutch member being rotatably movable with 'respectto the axis; of the rod supporting meansz.

tlanchor means adapted to interfit Withthebody portion of a patient directly below the axilla opposite to the crutch member and said anchor means being adapted to be held substantially immovable with respect to the side of a patient loi opposite the crutch member; and crutchmember positioning means comprising adjustablean terior and posterior connecting means joining the said anchor means to said crutch member.

2. In a crutch splint, a pelvic support; supporting means pivoted at one end portion to;

said pelvic support and extending upwardly f therefrom; a crutch member carried by said supporting means and freely rotatably movable axially of said supportingmeans; anchor means 5 adapted to interfit with the body portion of a patient: directly below: the axilla opposite to the crutch member and said anchor means being adapted to be heldsubstantially immovable with respect to the side of a patient opposite the 9.

crutch-member; and crutch member positioning means comprising adjustable tension strap means between the rear portion of said crutch member and said anchor means rotatively positioning said crutchmember axially of; said supporting means.

3. In a crutch splint, a pelvic support; a tubular; support pivoted at one end portion to said; pelvic support and extending upwardly there-, from; aithreaded supporting rod telescopicwithr in said; tubular support; nutmeans on said ro'd positioned to rest on the upper end portion of said tubular supportproviding rotary movement and, longitudinal adjustment of said supporting rod; a; padded crutch memberl-secured to the upperi end portion of said supporting rod; and positioning devices connected; with said-crutch member and adapted to be connected with the; bodyzof a: patient at the opposite shoulder to the crutch means. i I

v 4. In a, crutch splint, a pelvic support; uprightsupporting means pivoted at one end portion to said pelvic support; a crutch member carried by. said supporting means and rotatively movable axially relative to said: supporting means; shoulder ring means adapted to be held substantially immovable by theshoulder of the patient opposite to that injured; and adjust able devices connecting the crutch means with the shoulder ring means. providing rotary ad- 'justment of the crutch means axially of the sup-.

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