An adjustable shoulder abduction orthosis for the post-operative management of tendon transfers: A preliminary study.
Transfer of Musculus Latissimus dorsi/M. Teres major to the rotator cuff with or without M. Subscapularis/M. Pectoralis release is a widely used procedure for restoring shoulder abduction and external rotation in squeal of obstetric brachial plexus palsy. After the operation a shoulder abduction orthosis in maximal external rotation and 90 - 100 degrees abduction is utilized following six weeks of immobilization in a shoulder spica cast for protecting the newly transferred muscle from undue elongation. However this in turn may cause contracture of the external rotators. To overcome this problem, a modified shoulder abduction splint with adjustable internal-external rotation/abduction-adduction ranges was developed in the orthotics department of a rehabilitation center. The custom molded adjustable shoulder abduction orthosis is described and the preliminary results are compared with former applications.
Hacettepe University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Samanpazari, Ankara, Turkey. erelsuat@hacettepe.edu.tr
Suat
S
Erel
Ibrahim Engin
IE
Simşek
Ciğdem
C
Ayhan
Nilgün
N
Bek
Yavuz
Y
Yakut
Fatma
F
Uygur
D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000150:complications; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000601:surgery*; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013709:Tendon Transfer; D016896:Treatment Outcome