Elbow flexion contracture
T Jarrott
Description
Collection
Title:
Elbow flexion contracture
Creator:
T Jarrott
Date:
4/20/2005
Text:
Dear colleagues,
I have recently seen a 30 year old female who had a cererbral aneurysm around 2 years ago. As a result she has very high increased tone especially in her upper body. In particular her right elbow is maximally flexed, shoulder adducted and internally rotated. She can be passively stretched out to about 100 degrees off full extension with much force. This severe flexion position obviosuly creates some issues with personal care and skin integrity in the cubital fossa. She has sought surgical opinion but is not keen to proceed with this for now. Past Botox and serial casting have made some improvements but only temporarily. Some orthotic options have been tried by other orthotists with various problems in the past and currently the physio. uses 'second skin' garments with an elbow wedge (however these aren't very satisfactory). She is now due to have another round of Botox and serial casting and then we hope to put her in a definitive elbow brace to maintain / imrove the position acheived. Any suggestions as to the most likely successful option? I am, thinking that a custom elbow orthosis with either ratchet hinge or a turnbuckle system might be best. Thanks for your replies.
Tim Jarrott
Orthotist / Prosthetist
Australia
I have recently seen a 30 year old female who had a cererbral aneurysm around 2 years ago. As a result she has very high increased tone especially in her upper body. In particular her right elbow is maximally flexed, shoulder adducted and internally rotated. She can be passively stretched out to about 100 degrees off full extension with much force. This severe flexion position obviosuly creates some issues with personal care and skin integrity in the cubital fossa. She has sought surgical opinion but is not keen to proceed with this for now. Past Botox and serial casting have made some improvements but only temporarily. Some orthotic options have been tried by other orthotists with various problems in the past and currently the physio. uses 'second skin' garments with an elbow wedge (however these aren't very satisfactory). She is now due to have another round of Botox and serial casting and then we hope to put her in a definitive elbow brace to maintain / imrove the position acheived. Any suggestions as to the most likely successful option? I am, thinking that a custom elbow orthosis with either ratchet hinge or a turnbuckle system might be best. Thanks for your replies.
Tim Jarrott
Orthotist / Prosthetist
Australia
Citation
T Jarrott, “Elbow flexion contracture,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/224678.
