title: Soft-plastic brace for lower limb fractures in patients with spinal cord injury.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective study at a rehabilitation center.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Patients with spinal cord injury, even if they are wheelchair users, sometimes suffer from fractures of the lower limb bones. As their bones are too weak to have surgery, and because a precise reduction is not required for restoration, such patients are often indicated for conservative treatment. This case series study investigated the use of a hinged, soft-plastic brace as a conservative approach to treating fractures of the lower extremities of patients with spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  National Rehabilitation Center, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients (male, n=10; female, n=5; average age, 52.7 years) with 19 fractures of the femur or the tibia who were treated with a newly-developed hinged, soft-plastic brace were studied. All of them used wheelchairs. We analyzed the time taken for fracture union and for wearing orthotics, degree of malalignment, femorotibial angle and side effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fractures in this series were caused by relatively low-energy impact. The average time taken for fracture union was 80.1 (37-189) days, and the average amount of time spent wearing orthotics was 77.9 (42-197) days. On final X-ray imaging, the average femorotibial angle was 176.9° (s.d. ±8.90), and 15° of misalignment in the sagittal plane occurred in one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A hinged, soft-plastic brace is a useful option as a conservative approach for treating fractures of the lower extremities in patients with spinal cord injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation for Movement Functions, Research Institute, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Saitama, Japan. uehara-ko@room.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuma
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tobimatsu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001915:Braces; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010969:Plastics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics