Wrist traction device and method

The present invention provides the method for placing the patient's wrist in traction to alleviate symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The preferred apparatus utilizes a harness to connect the patient's hand to a traction device and a stabilizing attachment to restrain the patient's arm in an anatomically neutral position while isolating the patient's soldier and elbow from the traction device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention provides a method for placing a patient's wrist in
 traction for the purpose of treating carpal tunnel syndrome, and provides
 a device such as the illustrated embodiment to hold the patient's arm in
 an anatomically neutral position while a harness connects the patient's
 hand to a traction unit.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The carpal bones or carpus of the wrist form a deeply concave gutter
 through which the Median Nerve and flexor tendons pass. The gutter is
 converted into a tunnel by a ligament, the flexor retinaculum. The crowded
 long flexor tendons emerge from the carpal tunnel and diverge as they pass
 down the hand. Usually, the flexor tendons are very slick and glide
 against each other in the carpal tunnel as the hand is used to grasp
 objects. However, any condition which causes irritation or inflammation of
 the tendons or surrounding tissue increases the pressure in the carpal
 tunnel because the carpal bones and flexor retinaculum ligament are not
 able to stretch in response to the swelling. Increased pressure in the
 carpal tunnel begins to squeeze the Median Nerve and the hand will feel
 numb or ache. This is commonly referred to as carpal tunnel syndrome.
 The traditional treatments in the early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome
 include administering anti-inflammatory medication and splinting or
 immobilizing the wrist to allow the inflammation and swelling to subside.
 In more advanced cases, the flexor retinaculum ligament is cut, thereby
 opening a wall of the carpal tunnel and allowing sufficient space in the
 wrist to prevent the median nerve from being squeezed.
 Obviously, surgery is to be avoided if possible, and to further that goal,
 the present invention provides an additional method to treat carpal tunnel
 syndrome, particularly in less advanced cases. The invention preferably
 consists of an attachment to exiting traction devices that will to enable
 a patient's wrist to be placed in traction. This wrist traction provides a
 slight longitudinal separation between the carpal bones in the wrist and
 the lower heads of the lower arm bones, the radius and the ulna. The
 slight separation provides some space to relieve compression in the carpal
 tunnel area.
 A need exists to provide a therapeutic device which is distinguishable from
 a surgical traction splint. Surgical traction splints require surgery and
 often are associated with the surgical implantation of skeletal pins which
 is an invasive procedure. Skeletal pins are not natural to the body and
 may result in infection, or at least discomfort, to the patient.
 Therapeutic devices are devised to operate without the need to first
 perform surgery on the patient.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 In accordance with the present invention, an attachment for existing
 traction devices is provided with three principal components. The first
 component is an arm restraining segment that immobilizes the patient's arm
 in an anatomically neutral position and protects the patient's shoulder
 and elbow from injury during traction. The second component is a sling or
 harness to engage the patient's hand and connect it to the traction units.
 The final component is a mechanism to hold the arm immobilizing portion
 substantially stationary relative to the traction unit so that tension is
 applied to the patient's wrist.
 With this device it is an object and advantage of the invention to apply
 traction to a patient's wrist to relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel
 syndrome, other tendon problems and muscle tightness.
 It is a further object of the invention to provide a wrist traction
 attachment that is compatible with existing traction units.
 It is a further object of the invention to provide a wrist traction device
 which may be used by patients with a substantial range of muscular
 strength and bone size with only simple adjustments.
 It is yet another object of the invention to protect the patient's shoulder
 and elbow from strain during wrist traction and to position the patient's
 lower arm bones (the radius and ulna) in a generally parallel alignment.
 These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become
 apparent from a study of the drawings and from a review of the
 specification following hereinafter describing the preferred embodiment
 which has been given by way of illustration only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
 Turning first to FIG. 1, the lower arm 28 and hand 29 of a patient are
 illustrated. The lower arm 28 is shown in an anatomically neutral position
 where the radius 26 and ulna 27 in the lower arm 28 are substantially
 parallel and do not cross one another. In addition, the patient's hand 29
 is shown with a harness 10 according to the present invention. The harness
 10 has a midsection 14 upon which rides metal O-ring 15. Harness 10 also
 has a first end 11 which proceeds around a first loop section 12 (shown in
 FIG. 3) and back to a first joinder segment 13. In the present embodiment,
 the first end 11 is simply sewed to the harness at the first joinder
 segment 13, however, adjustable buckles or straps might be used to allow
 the harness to adapt to a wider range of patient hand sizes. After the
 mid-section 14 proceeds from the first joinder segment 13 through O-ring
 15, it then proceeds to second joinder segment 16, second loop section 17
 and second end 18, all as shown in FIG. 3.
 A harness 10 according to the present invention is easily and inexpensively
 made, however, it will be understood that many variations of this
 structure will be suitable, so long as they grasp the patient's hand 29
 below the interface of the carpal bones 20 with the radius 26 and ulna 27.
 FIG. 2 provides another illustration of patient's hand 29 taken along the
 line 2--2 in FIG. 1. Specifically illustrated in FIG. 2 is the gutter
 formed by carpal bones 20, including hamate 21, capitate 22, trapezoid 23,
 and ridge of trapezium 24. Several other carpal bones are not illustrated.
 The top of the gutter is formed by flexor retinaculum 31, which thereby
 encases the Median Nerve 30 and several flexor tendons including flexor
 digitorum superficialis 32, flexor digitorum profundis 33, flexor carpi
 radialis 35, and flexor pollicis longus 36. Flexor synovial sheath 34 also
 encompasses some of these flexor tendons. From the illustration in FIG. 2,
 it can be seen how pressure within the tunnel formed by flexor retinaculum
 31 and carpal bones 20 will place pressure on median nerve 30.
 FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention including the
 previously described harness 10 and a patient stabilizer attachment 40.
 The stabilizer attachment 40 consists primarily of the stabilizer bar 42
 and elbow cup 50. The stabilizer bar 42 has at its distal end a mating
 segment 41 which is used to attach the stabilizer attachment either to a
 traction device or another relatively immovable object. A stabilizer bar
 42 also has a distancing segment 43 to distance the mounting segment 44 at
 a position suitable for patient positioning.
 Mounting segment 44 is secured to elbow cup 50 which generally conforms to
 the shape of a patient's bent elbow. Elbow cup 50 is adapted to receive an
 elbow pad 53 which is preferably comprised of covered foam padding. Elbow
 cup 50 also has two upper arm strap holes 51 and two lower arm strap holes
 52. Upper arm strap 54 can be passed through upper arm strap holes 51 and
 the first strap end 55 secured to second strap end 56 to secure the
 patient's upper arm in the elbow cup 50. Securing the patient's upper arm
 25 in this fashion, as shown in FIG. 4, will isolate the patient's
 shoulder from the traction device. Applying traction to the patient's
 shoulder might cause injury to that joint.
 Similarly, lower arm strap 57 can be received through lower arm strap holes
 52 and first lower arm strap end 58 fastened to second arm strap end 59 to
 at least partially restrain the patient's lower arm 28 (shown in FIG. 4)
 and thereby reduce any tension applied by the traction device to the
 patient's elbow. The elbow is generally a more stable joint than the
 shoulder, so complete isolation from the traction device is not as
 critical with this joint.
 FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention in use with
 a traction device 60. Traction device 60 exerts tension on cord 61 which
 proceeds through pulleys 62 mounted on adjustable height cross bar 63 to
 S-hook 65, which in turn is fastened to O-ring 15 on harness 10. The
 harness 10 in turn engages the patient's hand 29. Adjustable bar 63 can be
 raised and lowered on vertical bar 64 so that the angle of traction
 applied by cord 61 is appropriate for the patient's position. Patient 68
 is shown sitting in chair 67 with upper arm 25 secured in elbow cup 50 by
 upper arm strap 54 and lower arm 28 secured in elbow cup 50 by lower arm
 strap 57.
 In practice, a programmable traction device such as the TX-7 Mobile
 Traction Unit or TX-8 Stationery Traction Unit manufactured by Chattanooga
 Group, Inc. is preferred. A typical treatment will apply traction for a
 ten-minute period consisting of cycles of thirty seconds of traction and
 fifteen seconds of rest. In typical cases, between seven and twenty pounds
 of traction will be applied to the patient's wrist, depending upon the
 patient's condition. Daily treatment in accordance with the present
 invention over a period of two months has resulted in significant
 diminution of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms in patients.
 While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated
 and described, it would obvious to those skilled in the art that various
 other changes and modification can be made without departing from the
 spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in
 the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the
 scope of the invention.