Abduction splint

As Abduction splint a special medical splint is called. It is used to support the upper arm in the abduction position.

What is an abduction splint?

An abduction splint is a special splint that serves as a medical aid. It is also called Shoulder abduction splint, Shoulder abduction pillow, Arm abduction pillow or Postman pillow designated. The latter term is due to the fact that the rail resembles the mailbag of a postman who has it wrapped around his arm.

The abduction splint is one of the bandages and ensures that the injured upper arm is in a stable position on the elbow. The arm is about a hand's breadth away from the trunk. The shoulder abduction splint is extremely important for the treatment, as otherwise the arm would lie against the body, which in turn has a negative effect on the success of the therapy.

The term abduction comes from Latin. Translated it means something like "lead away".

Shapes, types & types

An abduction splint is usually used to treat the upper arm or the shoulder joint. There are different versions in different shapes and sizes. The shoulder abduction pillow is widely used. It is used to fix the upper arm with a Velcro fastener. In this way, the shoulder joint can be immobilized and relieved.

The abduction pillow resembles a sports bag and is attached around the upper body with the Velcro fasteners. The pillow acts like a shelf for the arm so that it rests on it. A belt system allows you to set an angle of inclination between 10 and 75 degrees if necessary.

The low weight of the abduction pillow makes it comfortable to carry. In addition, the armpit remains free, which improves personal hygiene. A shoulder abduction splint can be placed on either the right or left side of the body. Fastening the rail is not a problem.

The abduction wedge is a special variant of the abduction splint. This is used in the area of ​​the hips and ensures that they are spread apart. It can also be used to keep the thighs apart. An abduction wedge is used as part of postoperative rehabilitation after a hip joint operation or to counteract misalignments in children. Depending on the shape and size, the abduction wedge is attached to child seats or vehicles. Following an operation, the patient puts the special splint on in bed.

Structure & functionality

An abduction splint is composed of a support, which is mostly a pillow. This support fixes the upper arm to be treated in the abduction position and anteversion. The abduction pillow usually has the shape of a wedge or a cylinder. It can be solid in structure or it can be inflated.

The pillow is attached to the body with a shoulder strap and a waist strap. Some abduction splints are also equipped with a support for the hand. The shoulder strap hangs the pillow on the side of the body like a bag, on which the forearm rests.

One of the advantages of the abduction splint is that the upper body remains free and the mobility of the thumb and fingers is not subject to any restrictions. The anatomical cut of the abduction pillow enables the arm to be securely positioned. The shoulder joint is securely fixed by another upper arm strap.

The positive effect of the abduction splint is based on the pressure relief of the subacromial space. At the same time, the ventral limbus and the parts of the capsule are relieved. The splint can also be used to prevent the axillary recess from sticking, which can lead to frozen shoulder.

Since the splint can be opened easily, functional follow-up treatments can be carried out quickly and easily. With the help of the hand rest of the abduction pillow, it is also possible to train the arm functionally at an early stage. The special orthosis can be put on in the operating room. By opening the arm straps, there is then the option of immediate postoperative mobilization of the wrist and elbow. Postoperative physiotherapy is made much easier by the abduction splint.

Medical & health benefits

The abduction splint or the abduction cushion has positive effects on the patient's health. The splint enables physiotherapeutic exercises to be performed early after an operation, which in turn has a positive effect on the healing process. In addition, the back muscles and tendons can be relieved.

A shoulder abduction splint is used after a shoulder or shoulder joint injury, such as a shoulder dislocation (dislocation of the shoulder), or a surgical procedure such as an osteosynthesis. The areas of application of the special splint can therefore be both conservative and operational.

The most common indications include acute or chronic bursitis (inflammation of the bursa), impingement syndrome (tissue entrapment), humerus head fractures, sprains, contusions or a so-called frozen shoulder following anesthesia mobilization. Further areas of application are therapies after a rotator cuff rupture, the removal of calcium deposits or the implantation of a shoulder prosthesis. The abduction pillow is also temporarily suitable for the outpatient follow-up treatment of a surgical procedure in the case of a congenital shoulder blade elevation. Another area of ​​application is to restore shoulder mobility in the event of painful frozen shoulder. After inserting an artificial shoulder joint, the patient wears the abduction splint for the first few weeks.

The carrying weight of the shoulder abduction pillow is not a burden. In addition, the terry cloth cushions ensure a comfortable fit. In the follow-up treatment of a humerus head fracture, the wide contact surface of the shoulder straps must ensure a safe and stable reduction of weight in the neck region in order to ensure stress-free healing of the injured structures. Swelling on the soft tissues and lymphatic congestion can be avoided by using transversely elastic material that has a slight compression effect.