Nose protector
Gordon Bass
Description
Collection
Title:
Nose protector
Creator:
Gordon Bass
Date:
8/17/2003
Text:
We are working with a patient and request assistance from those of you
with more experience.
40 some year old male residing in a nursing home. He is mentally
challenged -- closed head injury -- not cognizant. He indicates to the
staff that his nose itches. Patient has scratched his nose to the
point that now---he has no nose. He now has an open wound where his
nose was. Not even the septum is present. He continues to abuse the
area.
The PT staff at the nursing home has tried boxing gloves to limit the
continued abuse. I am told he somehow removes the gloves. Currently he
has mittens which are duct taped to his wrist in order to prevent
removal. He still has access to the area and you can just imagine how
the mittens look caked with various bodily fluids.
We were asked to intervene.
We have considered several approaches including a custom plastic guard
with straps, hockey helmet with face guard, combinations using the
boxing gloves, etc.
The Doctor does not want the patient restrained as this agitates him(the
patient).
Some of our concerns include; nursing home staff friendly,how easy is
it for the patient to get his fingers under the protector how do you
anchor the device, hygiene, will it agitate the patient,etc, etc.
Simply stated--based on your experience can you suggest an orthosis to
prevent this patient from access to the nose by his fingers/hand?
Thanking you in advance,
Gordon Bass CPO
Coastal O & P
Madisonville, La.
with more experience.
40 some year old male residing in a nursing home. He is mentally
challenged -- closed head injury -- not cognizant. He indicates to the
staff that his nose itches. Patient has scratched his nose to the
point that now---he has no nose. He now has an open wound where his
nose was. Not even the septum is present. He continues to abuse the
area.
The PT staff at the nursing home has tried boxing gloves to limit the
continued abuse. I am told he somehow removes the gloves. Currently he
has mittens which are duct taped to his wrist in order to prevent
removal. He still has access to the area and you can just imagine how
the mittens look caked with various bodily fluids.
We were asked to intervene.
We have considered several approaches including a custom plastic guard
with straps, hockey helmet with face guard, combinations using the
boxing gloves, etc.
The Doctor does not want the patient restrained as this agitates him(the
patient).
Some of our concerns include; nursing home staff friendly,how easy is
it for the patient to get his fingers under the protector how do you
anchor the device, hygiene, will it agitate the patient,etc, etc.
Simply stated--based on your experience can you suggest an orthosis to
prevent this patient from access to the nose by his fingers/hand?
Thanking you in advance,
Gordon Bass CPO
Coastal O & P
Madisonville, La.
Citation
Gordon Bass, “Nose protector,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 27, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/221596.
