US3417748A - Jointed splint for the treatment of fractures especially leg fractures - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 24, 1968 R. BIMLER 3,417,743

JOINTED SPLINT FOR THE TREATMENT OF FRACTURES ESPECIALLY LEG FRAGTURES 4 Sheets-Sneak 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1965 \1 INVENTOR. I RUDOLF BIMLER R. BIMLER 3, 7,748 JOINTED SPLINT FOR THE TREATMENT OF FRACTURES Dec. 24, 1968 ESPECIALLY LEG FRACTURES Filed Aug. 26, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RUDOLF B/MLER R. BIMLER 3,417,748 JOINTED SPLINT FOR THE TREATMENT OF FRACTURES Dec. 24, 1968 ESPECIALLY LEG FRACTURES Filed Aug. 26, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet C5 FIG-9 FIG-8 INVENTOR. RUDOLF B/MLE R R. BIMLER 3,417,748 JOINTED SPLINT FOR THE TREATMENT OF FRACTURES Dec. 24, 1968 ESPECIALLY LEG FRACTURES Filed Aug. 26, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG-l5 United States Patent 3,417,748 JOINTED SPLINT FOR THE TREATMENT OF FRACTURES ESPEGIALLY LEG FRAQTURES Rudolf Bimler, 9 Deichstrasse, 219 Cuxhaven, Germany Filed Aug. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 482,758 Claims priority, application Germany, Aug. 28, 1964, B 78,296 12 Claims. (Cl. 12885) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A splint structure characterised in providing support for each section of a fractured limb member and having joints which can be adjusted to coincide with the joints of the fractured member; and including in connection with the leg splint, a foot supporting member to which the foot is anchored and which has complete adjustability in all space coordinates for properly locating the foot in view of the fracture condition to be held in the splint.

The present invention relates to a device for treating bone fractures, especially leg fractures.

It has been found according to the present invention that such injuries due to immobilization can be avoided only by causing the entire injured limb to resume its function at an early stage of the treatment.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement which will make it possible for the injured limb to resume its function at an early stage of the treatment.

It is another object of this invention to provide an external splint system according to which sections thereof are movable in conformity with the interlinked sections of a leg.

It is another object of this invention to provide a functional jointed splint system which is simple in construction and operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side view of the entire splint system according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 represents a diagrammatic side view of a thigh unit and lower leg unit of the splint system according to the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a patients bed and illustrates a splint system according to the present invention suspended on double cords and pulleys over the bed.

FIGURE 4 represents a diagrammatic top view of the entire splint system with extented knee joint and shows the foot unit and arms of the splint system.

FIGURE 5 is a reduction ring with discs forming a part of the splint system according to the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of a sandal member forming a part of the structure of the invention.

FIGURE 7 shows a U-shaped foot unit of a splint system according to the invention with an adjustable sandal as when looking toward the sole of the foot.

FIGURE 8 illustrates rail holder or shackles.

FIGURE 9 diagrammatically illustrates the support for pulleys for the double cords employed in connection with the splint system according to the invention.

FIGURE 10 shows a frame arrangement for use in connection with the present invention to exert traction.

FIGURE 11 is a modification of the present invention and shows an arm splint for upper arm shank factures.

FIGURE 12 is a side view of a splint system according to FIGURE 11 with a ball joint.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary top view of the splint system of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a side view of a clamping assembly according to the invention for connecting the splint system to a bed.

FIGURE 15 shows the unit of FIGURE 14, in plan and, extended.

FIGURE 16 is a side view of an attachment according to the invention for connecting the clamping arrangement to the splint system.

FIGURE 17 shows a device for attachment to the splint system at a joint in conformity with the present invention.

A splint system according to the present invention is characterized primarily by a number of units linked to each other. According to a specific embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the splint system comprises four units, namely (a) a clamping assembly or unit for the attachment of the entire apparatus to the bed;

(b) a splint unit with a supporting trough for the thigh;

(c) a splint unit with a supporting trough for the lower leg; and

(d) a foot engaging unit for the support and fixation of the foot, said foot unit being adjustable on any plane and to any size.

The individual splint units are adjustable in conformity with the dimensions of the injured leg and are so designed that a desired therapeutic movement or a fixed position at any required angle can be maintained during traction treatment.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the splint system according to the invention comprises a joint rail at each side for the leg which includes a tubular rail section 2 for the upper leg portion or thigh, and a tubular rail section 3 for the lower leg portion. A plate 27 at each side of the system is pivoted at 1 to the end of section 3 and at 1' to rod 2' which is telescopically adjustable in section 2. The splint system furthermore comprises an assembly for mounting the foot, said assembly 4 being placed on a U-shaped frame 5 which has its leg parts telescopically engaging section 3 The pivotal connection of the individual elements of the splint system, the joints of which as far as the axes of the joints are concerned correspond to the axes of the injured limb, permits the movement of all leg joints. The upper rail sections 2 correspond in construction to the well-known Thomas splint and suspended therein is a pre-fabricated trough 6 for the thigh support. Trough 6 for the support of the lower leg is suspended on rail sections 3. These plastic troughs 6 and 6' can be pre-fabricated for normal thigh and lower leg sizes, and a supply of the trough sizes may be kept on hand. They can be cleaned with any common detergent for reuse. Troughs 6 and 6' (FIGURE 2), unknown in previous splint systems, have important advantages over the means employed with previous methods of supporting the limb on a splint with flannel slings fixed to the side bars or on so-called Swiss plastic sponge splints. The plastic material of trough-s 6, e which may be similar to Plexiglas, is X-ray permeable. The rail sections 2 have their upper ends interconnected by a semi-arch member 7 (FIG- URE 4). Said semi-arch member 7 is to engage the transverse fold of the seat on which the patient rests. The rail sections 2 and rods 2 are telescopically adjustable in order to be able to adapt the combination, in length, to the length of the upper thigh and thereby locate the knee properly relative to the joints 1, 1' of the device. When rail sections 2 and rods 2 are adjusted into position, screws 8 can be tightened up to lock the members together.

The upper thigh rests along its entire length from said transverse seat fold to an area closely adjacent the joints 1, 1' in a pressure-free manner in said trough 6.

The rail sections 3 may either be parallel to each other or may converge toward each other toward assembly 4. The trough 6' which is formed from X-ray permeable plastic material, is shaped to fit the lower leg.

Frame is adjustable in rail section 3 and can be locked thereto by tightening up screws 8'. In this manner, the splint assembly is adjusted to the length of the lower leg supported in trough 6.

Frame 5 has enlarged portions which are bored to receive rods 10 projecting upwardly from the plane of frame 5. Screws 10 can be employed to clamp each of the rods 10 in adjusted positions in the bores in portions 9.

A yoke or stirrup formed by tubular sections 12 and a U-shaped frame 13 is pivoted to the ends of rods 10 by transverse pivots 11 arranged on the lower ends of sections 12. The yoke is thus arranged in the manner of an inverted U. The side legs of frame .13 are telescopically adjustable, and sections 12, in conformity with the length of the foot, are adapted to be locked in their respective positions by means of lock screws at 8". A plate 14 of the approximate length of a foot is pivotally connected at its toe end to the transverse horizontal part of frame 13 (FIGURE 4) so the heel end of plate 14 can be adjusted about the horizontal axis of said pivot connection. A wooden sandal 15 is mounted on said plate 14 and by means of screws 18 extending into oblong holes 16 is adjustable longitudinally of the plate.

Plate 14, at the heel end, on the bottom, carries a plate 14' which has circumferentially distributed holes 14" therein. A rod 14" passes through a selected one of holes 14" and has clamp nuts 18 on the ends thereon. A link 17 is connected to each rod 10 on the pivot axis 11 and extends to one end of rod 14". Each link 17 has a slot 17' to receive the respective end of rod 14". Nuts 18' lock the rod 14 in adjusted positions along slots 17'. Plate 14 can thus have the heel end adjusted horizontally and locked by screws 18. The longitudinal plate 14 it self is sub-divided into a shorter upper section 14a, and a longer lower section 1412. The parts are pivoted together at their adjacent ends so as to rotate relative to each other on an axis of rotation defined by the pivot and locking screw and nut 20 which is perpendicular to the plane of plate 14.

The said joint permits a pivoting of the lower longer section 14b, of plate 14 laterally with the foot firmly resting on wooden sandal 15 in order to permit a correction of a rotation defect in the longitudinal axis of the lower leg. If this adjustment requires tilting of rod 14", this can easily be accomplished due to slots 17 and nuts 18. A swivel joint 21 in plate 14 perpendicular to the above described joint permits a rotation of plate 14 about a longitudinal axis for adjusting the wooden sandal 15 and, thus, the foot on plate 14 to correct a varsus or valgus deform- .ity. The foot itself at the forward end is secured on the wooden sandal 15 (FIGURES 1 and 6) by means of a strap-like toe ring 15' and by a so-called Steinmann pin (not shown) adapted to be passed through a heel bone of the foot. Two lateral holding plates 22 screwed to the heel section of the wooden sandal 15 form the support for the Steinmann pin. In order to be able to adapt the arrangement to the height of the heel and the respective area through which the Steinmann nail is passed through the heel bone, the holding plates 22 of the heel bone are adjustable along the height and the longitudinal direction of the foot and can be held in their respective adjusted position by lock screws 22' and 22", respectively. Each of the lateral holding plates 22 has a bore 23 engaged by the Steinmann pin which has ends which protrude from the heel bone at both sides of the foot.

The described assembly 4 for the foot permits all possible settings about all three axes and permits any necessary parallel movement as well as the fixation by screws in any of the desired positions. In view of the wide range of setting possibilities, every conceivable reduction or fracture adjustment is possible on the lower leg.

In view of the fixing of the foot on sandal 15 of the assembly 4 (by means of the Steinmann nail 48 at the heel and toe ring 15' at the front end of the foot), traction working uniformly at every point on the foot unit is effected in the lower leg axis. This is possible due to the attachment of the U-shaped open frame 5 to the tubular rail section 3. In this way, any disturbance of a fracture in a lower leg, supported in the splint unit, is prevented which with heretofore customary methods could occur Where the Steinmann pin passed through the heel bone inasmuch as the direction of the traction deviated from the lower leg axis. With these heretofore known methods, the heel bone alone supported the traction weight.

With regard to the traction exerted on the leg, a double pair of overhead pulleys 32 is attached to eyes 30 carried at the sides of an inverted frame 29 which has the ends of its legs pivoted to plates 27 at 28. In order to prevent a twisting of the cords or cables 31, the pairs of rollers 32 (FIGURE 9) are spaced from each other the same distance as the eyes 30 on U-shaped frame 29 are spaced from each other. Angularly adjustable disc means 36 is interposed between a support frame 32 for pulleys 32 and hanger ring 34. Ring 34 permits the pulleys to adjust themselves in conformity with the direction of traction.

For purposes of reducing the fracture and maintaining the desired position of reduction, there is provided a reduction of re-positioning ring R (FIGURE 5) which, by means of a pair of clamps 39, is adapted to be connected to desired oppositely located areas of the sides of the thigh or lower leg supporting portions of the splint system. Four discs (Pelettes) 40 are connected to the reduction ring R while being offset from each other at angles of 90. The radial positioning of discs 40 inside ring R is controlled by screws 41 threaded through the ring and each having connected to the outer end thereof a hand wheel 42 for actuation of the screws. Each disc 40 comprises two substantially parallel curved elements which are fixedly connected to each other and which are spaced from each other a distance of from 1 to 3 millimeters. A belt having a width of at least 5 centimeters and made of suitable material as, for instance, leather or heavy fabric, can be threaded through the gap formed between the two elements and passed about the leg and pulled taut. In this Way, by correspondingly turning hand wheels 42 of screws 41 selectively in one or the other directions, one or more discs 40 can be caused to exert pressure on the leg. Also by passing the belt around the leg and through the gap in a disc, traction can be exerted on the leg. In FIGURE 4, ring R, and the parts connected thereto is shown mounted on the side legs of frame 5. FIGURE 4 also shows another possible shape for the discs which are identified at 40' in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to FIGURES 12 to 16, these figures show an arrangement for holding the splint unit in place on the bed. A clamping arrangement is shown in FIG- URES 14 and 15 and comprises a two sided lower part by means of which the clamping arrangement is connectable to the bed rail or side member at one longitudinal side of a bed frame, and furthermore comprises an upper part which, by means of a spring, is firmly pressed against the top of the mattress on the bed. This upper part includes means for establishing connection with the splint unit previously described.

The upper and lower parts of said clamping arrangement are interconnected by pivot means which may be in the form of a single long rod. A coiled torsion spring (FIGURE 15) surrounding the rod is so connected to the parts of the clamp assembly as to spring urge the upper part down against the mattress when the lower part is connected to the bed frame.

By means of two vises 67 on the lower part, which are adaptable to the respective profile of the bed frame, the clamping arrangement can be connected to a longitudinal side member of the frame of the hospital bed. Clamp screws 68 secure the vises to the bed frame.

Vises 67 have bodies which are provided with bores in which are slidably fitted round bars 71 which are substantially parallel to each other and which are braced with regard to each other by a transverse strut 71. Crown nuts 70 secure the round bars 71 against dropping out of bodies of the vises, and the bars, by means of screws in vises 67, can be fixed to the vises in a position conforming to the respective thickness of the mattress.

The upper portion of the clamping assembly comprises spaced tubular members 75 which are connected by bars or struts 74. The one end of members 75 is joined to bars 71 by pivot means 73. Displaceably mounted in said tubular members 75 are the round bars 77 forming a part of another frame. Screws 78 are employed to fix each of bars 77 in members 75, depending on the desired position of the injured person and of the splint unit relative to the clamping assembly.

The round bars 77, which are slidable in tubular members 75, are braced by a strut 76 extending therebetween and have their free ends bent inwardly and support a plate 80 through the intervention of a shaft 80' fixed in position on a shaft 79 on the ends of bars 77. Plate 80 has cut thereinto two substantially parallel round bores 81 (FIGURES l5 and 16) each commencing on a respective side of the plate and extending inwardly to inner ends where each side is intersected by a circular bore 81a. The diameter of circular bores 81a is the same as the diameter or bores 51, while slots 81' in plate 80 are narrower than bores 31 and open into the bores.

Semi-arch member 7, which connects the ends of rail sections 2, supports a link 83 which, in its turn, carries a ball head 82. Ball head 82 is adapted to be introduced into either of circular bores 81a or 81 and, when moved in slot 81 is locked in plate 80 and, thus, connection is established between the splint unit of FIGURE 2, and the clamping assembly of FIGURES l4 and 15. Necessary lateral tilting or pivoting of the entire splint unit is made possible by tilting plate 80 about shaft 80". The adjustment is secured by screws 86.

The principles of the present invention, as outlined above, are also applicable to upper arm fractures as will be seen in FIGURES 11 to 13. A support resting on a healthy shoulder will properly support an arm splint system according to the present invention on the shoulder pertaining to the injured arm by means of a belt 53 and a pre-shaped mount 54 of plaster of paris or other suitable material. Mount 54 and belt 53 engage the healthy shoulder.

Spaced members 55 are each, by means of two joints 56 and 57/58 associated with angular plates 59 and mount 54 according to the following principle. Plates 59 are supported on mount 54 and extend laterally across the front and back of the patient and support the rails or members 55 by the splint structure.

The shoulder joint of the arm is a ball joint and thus has an infinite number of axes of movement. Of theses axes, two angularly related ones are built into the splint system in the form of a hinge joint 56 which permits the lateral upward and downward movement of the arm (abduction), and the circular segmental-shaped oblong openings 57 which are connected to mount 54 by bolts 58 which can move in the slots. Instead of plates 59 extending laterally across the patient, bolts 58 can be made long.

Lower arm rails 55 are provided at the free end with a hand graspable handle 60, and are pivotally connected by a joint 61 to upper arm rail members 55. The axis of joint 61 coincides with the elbow joint of the injured arm. This joint permits a movement of the elbow joint so as to allow bending and stretching the lower arm, while for purposes of strengthening the muscles, the injured arm has to overcome the pulling forces of two rubber strap means 62 extending between the lower arm rails 55' and the upper arm rails or members 55.

The said rails may be telescopically designed to adapt the splint system to the sizes of the individual injured arms similarly to the first described splint system.

Trough-shaped supports or repositioning rings of the type described in connection with the first described splint system may likewise be employed in connection with the arrangement of FIGURE 11 to give the upper arm a steady position.

Instead of the joint with the slots 57 in FIGURE 11, a ball joint 63, as shown in FIGURES 12 and 13 can join the arm splint to support 54 and permit the lateral upward and downward movement of the arm in a shoulder joint, and also permit the rotational movement of the upper arm in inwardly and outwardly and also sawing movements thereof. Inasmuch as during the upward movement of the upper arm (abduction), the upper arm rail becomes relatively too long, the axes of the ball joint link of the rail and of the natural ball joint member of the shoulder cannot coincide in a plane, and ball joint 63 has been provided with link 64 which, by means of a lubricating joint 65, is movably mounted on the base plate 66 of the shoulder mount 54.

Under certain conditions, for instance, when there exists the danger that the adjusted upper thigh fracture will slip or with a fracture complicated by a wound in soft parts of the body, it is advantageous to fix the knee joint in an absolutely safe manner in addition to holding said knee joint by a cable 38 (FIGURE 3).

The fixing is effected by means of a device (FIGURE 17) which is connected to rails 3 and rods 2 at both sides of joint 1. The fixing device is constructed as follows: A clamp 89 (FIGURE 17) is fixed to each rod 2 by screws 93. Connected to each clamp 89 through the intervention of a ball joint 88 is a round bar 87. Each round bar 87 has its free end extending through a bore in a clamp 89 which is fastened by screws 93 to the corresponding rail section. Each bar 87 is reciprocable in its clamp 89 and, by means of screws 92, is adapted to be arrested therein depending on the desired angular position. In this way, the knee joint can be safely fixed at a desired angle. The same arrangement is also usable in connection with the foot support assembly 4 in order to fix the foot at a desired angle, and also with the arm splint.

Reference to FIGURE 1 will show that the bed, generally indicated at B can be provided with an upstanding frame F having a top rail 33 from which the roller pairs 32 are suspended. Rail 33 also serves as a connection for the upper end of cable 38, fastened at its lower end to ring 30 at the'upper end of link 29.

A cable 26 may be provided leading from ring 26' at the upper end of the foot support to ring 30. A hand grip H may also be provided having a cable connected to ring 30.

Still further cables can be provided, such as a cable 52, which has a weight secured to one end and which cable leads over a pulley connected to frame F and then back to the region of plate 27 forming the knee joint of the splint.

A still further cable 52' can be anchored on frame F and lead downwardly and be connected at its lower end to frame 5.

As will be seen in FIGURE 10, cable 52 may be connected to the center part of a cross head 51 having cables 50 leading backward from opposite ends thereof to a frame consisting of members 49 and interconnecting bar 48. The arrangement shown in FIGURE 10 can be employed for applying traction to spaced portions of the splint system as, for example, to opposite sides of the knee joint region of the splint system.

Summary To sum up the advantages of the splint system according to the present invention over heretofore known splints employed for fracture treatment, it may be said that the present invention is characterized primarily by the following features:

(1) The splint system according to the invention with four unit members is suitable and advantageous for the fracture treatment of hip joint, knee joint, ankle joint, as well as femur and tibia fractures.

(2) A U-shaped foot splint unit according to the invention as illu trated in FIGURE 7 can be adjusted and locked in any desired position and, therefore, offers a variety of adjustment combinations for fractures of the tibia and foot under the simultaneous maintenance of unrestricted movement in the axis 11 of the upper ankle joint.

(3) The arrangement as particularly illustrated in FIGURE 17 of the present invention allows the knee joint and ankle joint to be secured at any desired angular position by means of bars 87 and hinges 88, thereby retaining the features of the conventional Braun frame.

(4) The apparatus, especially according to FIGURES l4 and 15 of the present application, is adapted to secure the splint on the patients bed and to assure a fixed position of the splint supporting the reduced injured limb.

(5) The thigh and lower leg are in conformity With the invention supported in a manner freed from pressure by removable troughs 6 (FIGURE 2) and may be pre-fabricated from a rigid thermoplastic X-ray permeable synthetic material.

(6) The apparatus according to the present invention includes reduction rings (FIGURE 5) which are fixed to the side bars of the thigh and lower leg units and which arbitrarily permit a pressure or traction effect on the displaced fracture pieces and can be moved with the splint.

(7) The system according to the invention comprises a frame-shaped clamping unit (FIGURES 14 and 15) attachable to the patients bed to secure the entire splint to the bed.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular constructions shown in the drawings but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A splint system for setting and treating fractures of a person, which comprises: a plurality of rail units adapted to be operatively connected to traction weights for respectively receiving the upper thigh and the lower leg and foot of a person to be treated, a plurality of rail unit joints movably interconnecting said units and adapted to be spaced from each other in conformity with the respective spacing of the leg joints of the person to be treated, means for maintaining the respective adjusted spacing of said rail unit joints while permitting movement of said leg joints and thereby of sections of the leg to be treated relative to each other, said foot rail unit including a foot resting member adjustable in a plurality of dimensions, a fastening unit pivotally connected to one of said rail units and operable to locate and connect said rail units to a bed, said fastening unit comprising a frame structure having a rigid lower section and a rigid upper section pivotally connected to said lower section and adjustable as to length, said lower section being connectable to the frame of a bed, and said upper section being engageable with the top of a mattress on the bed, and spring means continuously urging said upper section in the direction toward said lower section to thereby press said upper section of said frame structure when mounted on a bed against the upper surface of the mattress on the bed.

2. A splint structure for setting and treating fractures of a person and comprising; a thigh unit to receive and support the upper thigh, a lower leg unit to receive and support the lower leg, a foot unit to receive and support the foot, means pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of said thigh and lower leg units, said thigh unit being adjustable in length to conform the location of the pivotal connection thereof to said lower leg unit to the position of the knee joint of a patient, said foot unit being connected to the foot end of said lower leg unit, said lower leg unit being adjustable in length to conform the location of said foot unit to the length of the lower leg of a patient, said foot unit comprising a frame pivoted to said lower leg unit near the foot end of the unit, a plate having foot sole engaging means mounted on the side facing the patients foot, first means pivotally connecting said plate at the toe end to said frame, second means connecting the said plate near the heel end to said frame and adjustable to permit changing of the angular position of the plate relative to the frame while causing said plate and frame to pivot as a unit about the pivotal connection of the frame to the lower leg unit, said plate including a first joint at the toe end to permit angular adjustment of the plate about an axis extending longitudinally thereof and a second joint in the plate also near the toe end thereof to permit angular adjustment of said plate about an axis perpendicular to the plate and passing through said second joint, said first means including means for permitting adjustment of the toe end of the plate laterally of said frame, and said second means permitting lateral movement of the heel end of said plate lateraliy of said frame.

3. A splint structure according to claim 2 which includes means for adjusting said frame to adjust the distance between the pivotal connection of the frame to the lower leg unit and the pivotal connection of the toe end of said plate to said frame.

4. A splint structure according to claim 3 which includes means to adjust the said pivotal connection of said frame to said lower leg unit in a direction parallel to the length of said plate.

5. A splint structure according to claim 4 in which said foot sole engaging means includes means for fixing thereof to a foot at both the toe and heel ends.

6. A splint structure according to claim 5 in which each of said thigh and lower leg urits comprises a pair of spaced rails between which the patients leg is disposed, and arcuate trough-like support members shaped to embrace the back of the thigh and lower leg and having edge parts engaging over the tops of the rails of said thigh and lower leg units.

7. A splint structure according to claim 6 which includes means for applying traction to said splint structure at distributed points thereof.

8. A splint structure according to claim 7 which includes clamping means having a lower part adapted for connection to the frame of a bed and including an upper part moveably connected at one end to the upper end of the lower part and connected at the other end to said splint structure at the end of said thigh unit opposite the knee end thereof.

9. A splint structure according to claim 8 in which said upper part is adjustable in length and is spring biased relative to said lower part so as to press down on top of a mattress on the bed to which the clamping means is connected.

10. A splint structure according to claim 6 which includes a ring adapted for attachment to the said rails of said thigh or lower leg unit, said ring encircling the space in which the patients leg is disposed when in the splint, and leg engaging means inside said ring and radially adjustable therein toward and away from a leg disposed in the splint.

11. The splint structure according to claim It) in which said leg engaging means are adapted for being strapped to the leg to apply traction thereto.

12. The splint structure according to claim 2 which includes means for fixing said thigh unit to said lower leg unit, said means comprising a pair of bars pivotally inter connected at one end and means for fixedly clamping one 3,417,748 9 10 of said bars to each of said units at points on the units FOREIGN PATENTS spaced from the pivotal connection thereof to each other. 44 724 10/1931 Denmark References Cited 839,517 1/1939 France. 1,057,532 10/1953 France. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1 257297 2 191 Brown 128 8 LAWRENCE W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner. 1,466,487 8/1923 Shafier 128-88 2,052,990 9/1936 Siebrandt 128-88 XR 128 88 2,413,053 12/1946 Kolarik 12884 2,198,908 4/1940 Ellis 12884 10

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