Protecting Axilla From UE harness
John Spaeth
Description
Collection
Title:
Protecting Axilla From UE harness
Creator:
John Spaeth
Date:
5/26/1999
Text:
The laminated ring you referred to in an earlier email is known as a Hessing Loop. This is either laminated or thermoformed plastic that is contoured to the topography of the axilla. By adjusting the contour of the loop, one can move the pressure points around and relatively unencumber the ant. and post. axilla.
Frankly, I have had limited success using this design. The forces generated in the axillary area do not change, they are just redistributed. For this reason, the initial reaction from the patient/consumer seems to be positive, but in time, other problems arise related to the posterior and proximal pull of the axilla loop.
This design should not be overlooked since it does have a place in the clinical toolbox (if not history), but on balance, Mike Quigley's earlier post RE: using shoulder saddles with modified chest straps has had as good if not more consistent results. It is my opinion that neuropathy and vascular compromise are not the result of harness control but rather harness suspension as this places the greatest demand on the axilla. If that is true, it would appear that auxiliary suspension of the prosthesis would relieve the axilla on the contralateral side. Certainly today's arsenal of suction rubber sleeves and great self suspending socket designs would go a long way to aiding the basic fig 8 harness in suspension.
I think we do the axilla a great service when we consider auxiliary suspension.
This Hessing loop design has appeared in the literature several times over the years, and a simple search using Hessing as the key should produce the article you're looking for
Regards
John P. Spaeth CP.
Frankly, I have had limited success using this design. The forces generated in the axillary area do not change, they are just redistributed. For this reason, the initial reaction from the patient/consumer seems to be positive, but in time, other problems arise related to the posterior and proximal pull of the axilla loop.
This design should not be overlooked since it does have a place in the clinical toolbox (if not history), but on balance, Mike Quigley's earlier post RE: using shoulder saddles with modified chest straps has had as good if not more consistent results. It is my opinion that neuropathy and vascular compromise are not the result of harness control but rather harness suspension as this places the greatest demand on the axilla. If that is true, it would appear that auxiliary suspension of the prosthesis would relieve the axilla on the contralateral side. Certainly today's arsenal of suction rubber sleeves and great self suspending socket designs would go a long way to aiding the basic fig 8 harness in suspension.
I think we do the axilla a great service when we consider auxiliary suspension.
This Hessing loop design has appeared in the literature several times over the years, and a simple search using Hessing as the key should produce the article you're looking for
Regards
John P. Spaeth CP.
Citation
John Spaeth, “Protecting Axilla From UE harness,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 28, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/211857.
