Patent Publication Number: US-2012046583-A1

Title: Portable or wearable fracture treatment device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fracture treatment device used for treating a forearm fracture. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Fracturing of a wrist joint or the surrounding part often occurs when a person falls and lands on his/her hand. Due to the aging population, the number of fragility fractures such as distal radius fractures has been increasing rapidly in recent years. Such a fracture is usually treated by using a cast. To perform a conservative treatment using a cast, it is necessary to restore bone fragments to their substantially original locations with a single manipulative reduction. If the reduction is not performed under anesthesia, a patient suffers from pain. Even if the reduction is successful and the fractured part is fixed by using a cast, the fracture may subsequently recur inside the cast. Although a cast is useful for effective nonsurgical treatment, frequent use of reduction using a cast is avoided due to the problems of recurrence and anesthesia. 
     With surgical treatment, it is possible to directly move and anatomically restore bones to their substantially original locations. However, with surgical treatment, use of an invasive procedure into a soft tissue such as a muscle is unavoidable, and a blood vessel, a tendon, or a nerve may be damaged. Surgical treatment involves a risk due to anesthesia or the like, and a foreign body such as one composed of a metal will remain in the body. It is preferable that surgical treatment be avoided for elderly patients, who are physically weak. Surgical treatment causes a patient psychological and physical stress, and is expensive. As described above, both cast treatment and surgical treatment have many problems. 
     Continuous traction treatment in a recumbent or supine position is used for treating bone fractures in children, in particular, for treating a fracture of an elbow joint or the surrounding part or a femoral fracture, which is difficult to treat. For example,  FIG. 10  illustrates a known fracture treatment device used for treating a forearm fracture. The fracture treatment device includes a brace  61  that is made of a net and is attached to a finger connected to the affected forearm, and the brace  61  is pulled by a weight  63  through a rope or string  62 . In the example of  FIG. 10 , pulley  64  is used as means for pulling the brace  61  substantially horizontally. A good result can be obtained with the traction treatment by adjusting the reduction direction and the traction force. A patient only experiences a little pain in the fractured part in traction treatment, because the positions of the patient&#39;s limbs are not moved during the treatment. Therefore, traction treatment has advantages over surgical treatment in that a patient does not feel pain or anxiety, the risk is small, and the treatment can be administered at low cost. Moreover, traction treatment has advantages over cast treatment in that the affected part can be observed by the naked eye, which is difficult in cast treatment in which the affected part is covered with a cast; and a side effect due to a cast can be avoided. 
     On the other hand, traction treatment has disadvantages in that it is necessary to place a large device and a weight near a bed or a bed rail, and it is necessary for a patient to remain in a recumbent or supine position for a long time. In particular, when traction treatment is used for an elderly patient, the patient may suffer from muscular atrophy, articular contracture, or dementia due to lying in bed for a long time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As described above, continuous traction treatment in a recumbent or supine position has advantages in that a patient suffers from only a little pain in the fractured part and anesthesia is not necessary. However, existing fracture treatment devices used for continuous traction treatment, which use a weight to generate a traction force, have the following problems. First, such a fracture treatment device needs to be placed at a bedside because the device is heavy due to the weight. Second, a patient&#39;s lifestyle is restricted because the patient has to be in a recumbent or supine position for a long time. In particular, the patient may feel considerable mental distress regarding using a bedpan in bed. Third, because a weight is used to generate a traction force, the traction direction and the magnitude of the traction force cannot be finely adjusted. 
     An object of the present invention, which has been achieved in view of the problems of the prior art described above, is to provide a portable or wearable fracture treatment device with which it is possible to perform continuous traction treatment of a forearm fracture while allowing a patient to have a comfortable daily life without requiring the patient to remain in a recumbent or supine position. Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable or wearable fracture treatment device with which it is possible to finely adjust the traction direction and the magnitude of traction force. 
     According to the present invention, a portable or wearable fracture treatment device used for treating a forearm fracture includes a splint unit that is attached to an affected part of a forearm of a patient and a part of the patient surrounding the affected part so that the affected part is supported along a longitudinal direction of the forearm (i.e., such that the affected part is supported substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the forearm), an upper arm attachment unit that attaches the splint unit to an upper arm of the patient so that the splint unit is supported by the upper arm of the patient, a fixing unit that fixes a part (for example, a finger) of the patient that is between the affected part of the forearm and an end of a hand of the patient, and a traction unit that is supported by the splint unit. The traction unit pulls the affected part of the forearm of the patient in a direction from the affected part of the forearm of the patient toward the hand of the patient by pulling the fixing unit in the direction from the affected part of the forearm of the patient toward the hand of the patient, in a state in which the forearm of the patient is flexed substantially horizontally with respect to an upper arm of the patient that extends substantially vertically (i.e., in a state in which the forearm and the upper arm of the patient are substantially perpendicular to each other around the elbow of the patient). 
     In the present specification, the term “affected part” refers to “fractured part”. The phrase “a part that is more distal than an affected part” refers to a part of the patient that is located farther from the heart (center of the body) than the affected part is. If the affected part is a forearm, the distal part may be a palm, a finger, or the like. The phrase “a part that is more proximal than an affected part” refers to a part of the patient that is nearer to the heart than the affected part is. If the affected part is a forearm, the proximal part may be an upper arm or the like. In the present specification, a part that is more distal than an affected part of a forearm has the same meaning as a part of the patient that is between the affected part and the end of a hand of the patient. In the present specification, “hand” includes “finger”. In the present specification, it is preferable that the traction unit be fixed to the splint unit (base unit) that is attached to an affected part of a forearm. It is preferable that the splint unit (base unit) have the function of a splint (a thin plate or a part of a cast, which is made of aluminum or plastic and is used for treatment by being attached to an arm or a leg along the longitudinal direction of the arm or the leg). 
     According to the present invention, a portable or wearable fracture treatment device used for treating a forearm fracture may include a distal base unit that is disposed on a part of a patient between an affected part of a forearm and an end of a hand of the patient, a proximal base unit that is disposed at a part of the patient between the affected part of the forearm and an upper arm of the patient, a distal attachment unit that attaches the distal base unit to the part of the patient between the affected part of the forearm and the end of the hand of the patient, a proximal attachment unit that attaches the proximal base unit to the part of the patient between the affected part of the forearm and the upper arm of the patient, and a traction unit. The traction unit has one end fixed to the proximal base unit and the other end fixed to the distal base unit. The traction unit pulls the affected part of the forearm of the patient in a direction from the affected part toward the hand of the patient with respect to the part of the patient between the affected part of the forearm and the upper arm of the patient by applying a predetermined force to the proximal base unit and the distal base unit so as to increase the distance therebetween. 
     The distal base unit, which is disposed at a position more distal than the fractured part, and the proximal base unit, which is disposed at a position more proximal than the fractured part and which serves as a counter traction unit, may be disposed on a single splint so as to face each other with the fractured part therebetween and thereby exert a reduction effect on the fractured part. 
     It is preferable that the portable or wearable fracture treatment device according to the present invention further include an attachment unit that attaches the splint unit to a trunk or a shoulder of the patient. 
     It is preferable that, in the portable or wearable fracture treatment device according to the present invention, the attachment unit be a belt that is worn around the trunk of the patient, the belt having a front side to which the splint unit is attachable, the front side being opposite to a side of the belt that faces the trunk of the patient. 
     It is preferable that, in the portable or wearable fracture treatment device according to the present invention, the attachment unit be an orthopedic appliance that is slung over a shoulder of the patient, the appliance having a front side to which the splint unit is attachable, the front side being opposite to a side of the appliance that faces the trunk of the patient. 
     It is preferable that, in the portable or wearable fracture treatment device according to the present invention, the traction unit include a mechanism for adjusting a traction force applied to the affected part, the mechanism adjusting a length of a wire or string whose end is fixed to the fixing unit. 
     It is preferable that, in the portable or wearable fracture treatment device according to the present invention, the traction unit include a motor that generates a force with which the fixing unit is pulled. 
     With the present invention, because the splint unit for supporting the traction unit and the upper arm attachment unit for attaching (connecting) the splint unit to the upper arm are provided, traction can be continuously performed without requiring the patient to remain in a certain position. As a result, the present invention has an advantage over existing traction treatment devices in that it is not necessary to require the patient to continue to lie in bed. That is, with the present invention, a patient can receive traction treatment of a fracture while leading a normal daily life the same as that before suffering from a fracture. Therefore, with the present invention, when treating a fracture, a patient is not required to lie in bed as in existing traction treatment, so that decrease in muscular strength or impairment of visceral function are prevented. Moreover, progress of dementia due to lying in bed for a long time, which is an inherent problem in treating fractures of elderly patients, can be prevented. 
     With the present invention, when the splint unit or a forearm (the forearm to which the splint unit is attached) is supported by a trunk or a shoulder of the patient by using a belt that is worn around the trunk or an orthopedic appliance that is slung over the shoulder, the patient can easily carry the fracture treatment device according to the present invention. 
     With the present invention, the traction unit, which is carried or attached to a patient by using the splint unit, may include a mechanism (such as a winch) that adjusts the length of the wire or string used for adjusting a traction force applied to the affected part or a motor that generates and adjusts a force with which the fixing unit is pulled. In this case, because a weight is not used as in existing fracture treatment devices, the size and weight of the entire device can be reduced, and the traction direction and the magnitude of traction force can be finely and accurately set and adjusted. In particular, in the case where a weight is not used as a power source of the traction unit, when a patient performs traction treatment by attaching the present device to his/her upper limb by him/herself, the traction force does not change even if the direction of the present device is changed, whereby an excessive force is not applied to the affected part and negative influence on the treatment is reduced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a portable or wearable fracture treatment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention as seen from above a patient. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1  as seen from the front of the patient. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating the patient wearing the device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a first modification of the first embodiment, which uses a plurality of winches in a traction unit. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a second modification of the first embodiment, which uses, instead of a pulley, a mechanism using a wire or the like that extends through a substantially U-shaped tube having an inner surface made of a low-friction plastic. 
         FIGS. 6A to 6C  illustrate a third modification of the first embodiment, which includes a clutch mechanism that is disposed in a transmitting unit between a traction unit and an affected part of the patient and that serves as a safety device for preventing an excessive traction force from acting on an affected part. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a fourth modification of the first embodiment, which uses a motor as a component of a traction unit. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a fifth modification of the first embodiment, with which it is possible to pull a wrist in a state in which the wrist is extended substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of a forearm and to pull the wrist in a state in which the wrist is flexed with respect to the longitudinal direction of the forearm. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a portable or wearable fracture treatment device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a fracture treatment device of prior art. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A first embodiment of the present invention, which is the best mode for carrying out the present invention, will be described below. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a portable or wearable fracture treatment device according to the first embodiment of the present invention as seen from above a patient.  FIG. 1  illustrates a trunk A of the patient, a forearm B of the patient, an upper arm C of the patient, a wrist D of the patient, and a finger E of the patient. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a splint unit  1  (base unit), pads  2  and  3 , a belt  4 , and a buckle  4   a  of the belt  4 . The splint unit  1  is made of a metal or a plastic. The splint unit  1  has a flat shape or a shape having a substantially U-shaped cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof (i.e., a shape that is curved so as to follow the surface of the forearm B of the patient). The pads  2  and  3  are made of a fabric or an elastic material such as a rubber and are fixed to the back surface of the splint unit  1  (which faces the trunk of the patient) with an adhesive or a hook-and-loop fastener (which is, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener marketed with the trademark “Velcro”). (The pads  2  and  3  are disposed on a left front part and on a right front part of the trunk A of the patient, respectively.) The belt  4  is fixed to both ends of the splint unit  1 , and is worn around the outer peripheral surface of the trunk A of the patient. In the first embodiment, the splint unit  1  is fixed or attached to the trunk A of the patient over his/her clothes by using the belt  4 . (In the first embodiment, instead of using the belt  4 , the splint unit  1  may be fixed to the trunk A of the patient by sewing the splint unit  1  and the pads  2  and  3 , which are fixed to the splint unit  1 , onto the clothes of the patient.) 
       FIG. 1  illustrates belts  5   a  and  5   b , both ends of which are fixed to the splint unit  1  and which are supported by being worn around the outer peripheral surface of the forearm B of the patient. ( FIG. 1  does not illustrate buckles of the belts  5   a  and  5   b .) The splint unit  1  is fixed or attached to the forearm B of the patient with the two belts  5   a  and  5   b .  FIG. 1  illustrates an upper arm attachment unit  6  that is made to contact an inner surface of the upper arm C of the patient (that faces the forearm B of the patient). The upper arm attachment unit  6  is attached to the upper arm C of the patient by using a belt  6   a . The upper arm attachment unit  6  has a horizontal cross-section that is substantially semicircular so that the upper arm attachment unit  6  can easily contact the upper arm C of the upper arm C. In the first embodiment, the upper arm attachment unit  6  is integrally formed with the splint unit  1  at the right end of the splint unit  1  in  FIG. 1 . Although the upper arm attachment unit  6  is integrally formed with the splint unit  1  in  FIG. 1 , the upper arm attachment unit  6  and the splint unit  1  may be formed separately. The upper arm attachment unit  6  may include a mechanism for adjusting the size and angle thereof in accordance with the body size and preference of a user. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a frame supporting unit  7  and a frame  9 . The frame supporting unit  7  protrudes from a part of the splint unit  1  that faces the wrist D of the patient toward the wrist D of the patient. The frame  9  extends from the frame supporting unit  7  toward the finger E of the patient. The frame  9  is illustrated as a rod in  FIG. 1 . However, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the frame  9  actually includes two rods that extend substantially parallel to each other respectively above and below the hand of the patient. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the frame  9  includes a shaft  9   a  that extends vertically and connects the right ends of the two rods, and a pulley  15  that is attached to the shaft  9   a . In the first embodiment, the frame  9  is connected to the frame supporting unit  7  so that the frame  9  can be rotated (the angle thereof can be changed) around the frame supporting unit  7  in directions in which the frame  9  moves toward or away from the trunk A of the patient of  FIG. 1  (directions indicted by arrow α of  FIG. 1 ) (see also broken lines denoted by numerals  9 ′,  10 ′,  14 ′,  15 ′,  16 ′, and E′ in  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a brace  10 , a hook-shaped protrusion  11 , a knob screw  12 , an elastic body  13 , a wire or string  14 , and the pulley  15 . The brace  10  is fixed to the tip of the finger E of the patient, which is more distal than the fractured part (for example, the wrist of the patient). The brace  10  is a finger trap that has a basket-like shape formed by weaving bamboo or metal strings. When the brace  10  (the finger trap) is pulled, the inside diameter of the basket-like shape decreases, whereby the brace  10  fastens the tip of the finger E to be pulled. The hook-shaped protrusion  11  is fixed to the left end of the splint unit  1  in  FIG. 1 . The knob screw  12  is inserted (screwed) into a screw hole formed at substantially the center of the hook-shaped protrusion  11 . One end of the elastic body  13  (which has markings) is fixed to an end of the knob screw  12 . The wire or string  14  connects the other end of the elastic body  13  to an end of the brace  10 . The pulley  15  is attached to the shaft  9   a  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the frame  9  so as to change the direction in which the wire or string  14  is pulled. The length of the wire or string  14  from the brace  10  to the elastic body  13  can be adjusted by adjusting the depth to which the knob screw  12  is screwed into the screw hole in the hook-shaped protrusion  11 , whereby the traction force applied to the brace  10  through the wire or string  14  can be adjusted. The elastic body  13 , which serves to prevent a sudden change in the traction force, includes, for example, a spring or a rubber. (Instead of a rubber or a spring, the elastic body  13  may include a gas cylinder or the like). In the present invention, the knob screw  12  may be included in a winch mechanism that winds the wire or string  14  around a cylindrical body when the knob screw  12  is rotated, and the traction force of the wire or string  14  may be adjusted by using the winch mechanism. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in the first embodiment, the frame  9 , the hook-shaped protrusion  11 , the knob screw  12 , the elastic body  13 , the wire or string  14 , and the pulley  15  constitute a traction unit  20  for pulling the affected part.  FIG. 1  illustrates a cover  16  that is made of a fabric or a plastic sheet and that is attached to outer peripheral edges of the splint unit  1  and the hook-shaped protrusion  11 . The cover  16  shields the traction unit  20  and the forearm of the patient so that they cannot be seen from the outside, and protects the forearm from direct contact with an external object (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     As described above, the frame  9  is connected to the frame supporting unit  7  so that the frame  9  can be rotated (the angle thereof can be changed) around the frame supporting unit  7  in directions in which the frame  9  moves toward or away from the trunk A of the patient of  FIG. 1  (i.e. in directions indicted by arrow α of  FIG. 1 ) (see also broken lines denoted by numerals  9 ′,  10 ′,  14 ′,  15 ′,  16 ′, and B′ in  FIG. 1 ). Therefore, in the first embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the direction in which the finger E is pulled (the direction in which the traction force is applied to the affected part) can be adjusted by rotating the frame  9  around the frame supporting unit  7  and changing the angle of the frame  9  with respect to the longitudinal direction of the forearm B. That is, whether to pull the wrist D in a state in which the wrist D is extended substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the forearm or to pull the wrist D in a state in which the wrist D is flexed with respect to the forearm can be selected. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the fracture treatment device according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG.  1  as seen from the front of the patient. Because  FIG. 2  is a schematic view, some parts are not strictly the same as those of  FIG. 1 . For example,  FIG. 2  does not illustrate the cover  16  and the knob screw  12 , which are illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating how the present embodiment is used, as seen from the front of the patient. In  FIG. 3 , the cover  16  almost entirely covers the splint unit  1 , the traction unit  20 , and the forearm of the patient, which are illustrated in  FIG. 1 . However, the first embodiment is not limited thereto. The cover  16  may cover only part of the splint unit  1 , the traction unit  20 , and the forearm of the patient. 
     Next, the operation and the method of using the first embodiment will be described.  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a case where the brace  10 , which is attached to the tip of finger, is pulled. In this case, first, the splint unit  1  is made to contact the forearm B of the patient, and the belts  5   a  and  5   b , which are fixed to the splint unit  1 , are worn around the outer peripheral surface of the forearm B and then tightened, thereby the splint unit  1  is fixed or attached to the forearm B. 
     Next, the upper arm attachment unit  6 , which is formed at the right end of the splint unit  1  in  FIG. 1 , is made to contact the upper arm C and is attached to the upper arm C with the belt  6   a , and thereby the splint unit  1  is connected to the upper arm C. Thus, the splint unit  1  is supported by the forearm B and the upper arm C. 
     Next, the brace  10 , to which end the wire or string  14  has been fixed beforehand, is attached to the tip of the finger E of the patient. Subsequently, the magnitude of the traction force transferred through the wire or string  14  to the finger E (traction force applied to the affected part) is adjusted by rotating the knob screw  12  and moving the wire or string  14  in the direction of arrow β in  FIG. 1 . 
     Next, the splint unit  1 , which is fixed or attached to the forearm B of the patient, is fixed or attached to the trunk A of the patient over the pads  2  and  3  and clothes (not shown) by using the belt  4 . Then, the entirety of the forearm B of the patient, the splint unit  1 , and the traction unit  20  are covered with the cover  16 . The steps of the operation described above are not definite, and the order of the steps may be changed. 
     As described above, in the first embodiment, the frame  9 , the hook-shaped protrusion  11 , the knob screw  12 , the elastic body  13 , the wire or string  14 , and the pulley  15  constitute the traction unit  20  for pulling the brace  10 . The traction unit  20  is supported by the splint unit  1  through the frame supporting unit  7 . The splint unit  1  is fixed or attached to the forearm B of the patient by using the belts  5   a  and  5   b . The splint unit  1  is also attached to the upper arm C of the patient by using the upper arm attachment unit  6  and the belt  6   a . Therefore, the traction unit  20  is attached to and supported by the upper limb (the forearm B and the upper arm C) of the patient, so that the fractured part such as the finger E can be continuously pulled while the patient performs daily activities such as walking. In particular, as described above, in the first embodiment, the splint unit  1  and the traction unit  20 , which is supported by the splint unit  1 , are fixed or attached to the trunk A of the patient by using the belt  4  and the pads  2  and  3 . Therefore, traction can be continuously and stably performed irrespective of whether the patient is in an erect position, a seated position, or a recumbent or supine position. 
     In the first embodiment, the traction force can be easily set and changed by adjusting the degree to which the knob screw  12  is screwed. Therefore, with the first embodiment, the traction force can be applied to a patient in accordance with the position and the state of the fracture and the body size of the patient, and the traction force can be changed in accordance with the progress of the treatment. With the first embodiment, the traction direction can be easily changed during the treatment. Moreover, in the first embodiment, the elastic body  13  including a spring or the like is used. Therefore, with the first embodiment, the traction force is not changed suddenly due to vibration or displacement, so that a negative influence on the treatment due to an excessive force applied to the affected part is prevented. 
     In the first embodiment, if the patient is only in an erect position or a seated position, the patient can support his/her forearm B, the splint unit  1 , and the traction unit  20  only with his/her arm muscles. In this case, it is not necessary for the patient to attach the splint unit  1  and the traction unit  20  to his/her trunk A by using the belt  4  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . That is, the patient can hold the splint unit  1  and the traction unit  20  according to the first embodiment only with his/her forearm B, i.e., with his/her arm muscles. However, when using the fracture treatment device for a long time, it is difficult for the patient to support the splint unit  1  and the traction unit  20  only with his/her arm muscles. Therefore, in order that the device can be used easily and stably for a long time, it is preferable that the splint unit  1  and the traction unit  20  be supported by the patient&#39;s trunk A or shoulder by using the belt  4  and the like. 
     In the first embodiment, the splint unit  1 , the traction unit  20 , and the forearm B of the patient are supported by the trunk A of the patient by attaching the splint unit  1  to the trunk A of the patient by using the belt  4 . However, in the present invention, instead of the belt  4 , a string or a cloth (a triangular sling or the like) that is slung over the shoulder may be used so that the splint unit  1 , the traction unit  20 , and the forearm of the patient can be supported by the shoulder of the patient. That is, in the present invention, instead of the belt  4 , a known arm holder or an arm strap may be used as an orthopedic appliance that is attached to the shoulder of the patient and that supports the splint unit  1 , the traction unit  20 , and the forearm B of the patient. Alternatively, in the first embodiment, a known “Shoulder Brace” (trademark, provided by Alcare Co., Ltd. (1-2-1 Kinshi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan)) may be used as an orthopedic appliance that is attached to the shoulder and the trunk A of the patient so as to support the splint unit  1 , the traction unit  20 , and the forearm B of the patient. As a further alternative, in the first embodiment, an end of the splint unit  1  may be sewed onto clothes worn by the patient, so that the splint unit  1  is supported at a position in front of the chest or the abdomen of the patient. 
     In the first embodiment, the traction force is generated by winding a screw (winch mechanism) attached to an end of the wire or string  14 . The generated traction force is received by the upper arm C through the upper arm attachment unit  6 , which is located slightly above the elbow (i.e., a reaction force of the traction force is generated in the upper arm C). In the present invention, the traction force may be received by the forearm B (for example, a part of the forearm B near to the belts  5   a  and  5   b ) instead of the upper arm C. In the first embodiment, the elastic body  13 , such as a spring or a rubber, is disposed between the end of the wire or string  14  and the knob screw  12 , so that a sudden change in the traction force is prevented. 
     In the present invention, the wire or string  14  itself may be made of an elastic material to prevent a sudden change in the traction force. In the present invention, in order to prevent a sudden change in the traction force, a spring or the like may be incorporated in the frame or the supporting unit of the frame to which the wire or string  14  is attached. The fracture treatment device according to the first embodiment may be slung over the shoulder or may be attached to a vest-like orthopedic appliance that is worn by the patient. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a first modification of the first embodiment. In the first modification illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 43 , in particular as illustrated in  FIG. 48 , the traction unit  20  includes a plurality of winches (mechanism for adjusting the length of the wire or string  14 ). In this case, by setting different traction strokes and different traction forces for respective winches, effectiveness of treatment can be increased in particular when there are a plurality of fractured parts. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a second modification of the first embodiment. In the second modification illustrated in  FIG. 5A , a guide tube  21  is used as means for changing the direction of the traction force, instead of the pulley  15  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The guide tube  21  is substantially U-shaped, and the inner surface of the guide tube  21  is made of a low-friction plastic. The wire or string  14  is inserted through the guide tube  21 . The second modification has an advantage in that the safety, the space utility, and the appearance are improved because only a small part of the wire or string  14 , which transmits the traction force, is exposed to the outside.  FIG. 5B  illustrates the structure of the guide tube  21 , which includes a tube  21   a  that is a body of the guide tube  21  and made of a material having a high strength, a covering  21   b  formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tube  21   a , and a low-friction coating  21   c  that is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tube  21   a.    
       FIGS. 6A to 6C  illustrate a third modification of the first embodiment. In the third modification illustrated in  FIGS. 6A to 6C , the fracture treatment device includes a clutch mechanism  22  that is disposed in a middle part of the wire or string  14  (between the brace  10  and the elastic body  13  in  FIG. 6A ). The clutch mechanism  22  serves as a safety device that prevents an excessive traction force from being applied to an affected part.  FIG. 6B  illustrates an example that includes, instead of the brace  10  (finger trap) for fixing the tip of the finger as illustrated in  FIG. 6A , a different type of orthopedic appliance for fixing a wrist and the surrounding part of the patient (for example, a known orthopedic appliance including a polyurethane rubber sheet and a bandage or the like).  FIG. 6C  illustrates variations of the clutch mechanism  22 . The upper one is a breakable clutch (which breaks when a load that is greater than a certain value is applied), the middle one is a friction clutch using frictional resistance (sliding type), and the lower one is a friction clutch (rotary type).  FIG. 6C  also illustrated a friction surface  102 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a fourth modification of the first embodiment. In the fourth modification illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , a motor  23  is used as means for adjusting the length of the wire or string  14  described in the first embodiment, instead of the manually-driven knob screw  12  in the first embodiment.  FIG. 7A  illustrates an example in which two units, each including the motor  23  and a speed reducer  24 , are used (in order to pull two fractured parts).  FIG. 7B  illustrates an example in which a motor  25  is used to adjust the length of the wire or string  14  in the case where an orthopedic appliance (for example, a known brace including a polyurethane rubber sheet and a bandage or the like), which fixes a wrist and the surrounding part of a patient, is pulled through a stabilizer. Because the motor  25  used in the example of  FIG. 7B  has high power, the speed reducer  24  used in the example of  FIG. 7A  is not necessary. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a fifth modification of the first embodiment. With the fifth modification illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , it is possible to pull a wrist in a state in which the wrist is extended substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of a forearm B and to pull the wrist in a state in which the wrist is flexed with respect to the longitudinal direction of the forearm B.  FIG. 8A  illustrates a case where the wrist in pulled in a state in which the wrist is extended parallel to the longitudinal direction of the forearm B, and  FIG. 8B  illustrates a case where the wrist is pulled in a state in which the wrist is flexed by about 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction of the forearm B. For convenience of drawing, some components are not illustrated in  FIG. 8B . With the fifth modification illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the wrist of the patient can be pulled in a flexed state by changing the position of the pulley  15  from a position at which the wrist of the patient extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the forearm B to a position at which the wrist forms an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the forearm B. The angle is not fixed and may be changed in accordance with the symptom and the treatment policy. Note that a similar structure for changing the position of the pulley  15  from a position at which the wrist of the patient extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the forearm B to a position on at which the wrist forms an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction has been described with reference to  FIG. 1 . A wrist brace is shown the fifth modification illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . Traction can be performed by using the wrist brace. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , a portable or wearable fracture treatment device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.  FIG. 9A  illustrates the second embodiment attached to a forearm B of a patient as seen from above the forearm B, and  FIG. 9B  illustrates the second embodiment attached to the forearm B of the patient as seen from a side of the forearm B. In  FIGS. 9A and 9B , components the same as those of  FIG. 1  are denoted by the same numerals. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a proximal base unit  31 , belts  32   a  and  32   b , an upper arm contact unit  33 , a fastener  33   a  (belt), a coil supporting unit  35 , and an upper-arm-side coil fixing unit  36 . The proximal base unit  31  has a shape having a substantially semicircular cross-section (a shape that is curved so as to follow the shape of the forearm B of the patient), and is fixed or attached to a part of the patient that is more proximal than the affected part (a part surrounding the forearm B or a substantially central part of the forearm B). The belts  32   a  and  32   b  are used to fix the proximal base unit  31  to the forearm B of the patient. The upper arm contact unit  33  is connected to the proximal base unit  31  through a connection unit  34 , and is attached to the upper arm C of the patient so as to contact the upper arm C. The fastener  33   a  (belt) has a substantially ring-like shape that follows the outer peripheral surface of the upper arm C of the patient, and is used to attach the upper arm contact unit  33  and the connection unit  34  to the upper arm C of the patient (so as to prevent the upper arm contact unit  33  and the proximal base unit  31  connected to the upper arm contact unit  33  from being moved toward the wrist D). The coil supporting unit  35  is disposed above the proximal base unit  31  (in a direction away from the forearm B) and is fixed to the proximal base unit  31 . The upper-arm-side coil fixing unit  36  is fixed to the coil supporting unit  35  and the proximal base unit  31 , and the right end of a coil spring  37  in  FIGS. 9A and 9B  is fixed to the upper-arm-side coil fixing unit  36 . In the second embodiment, the upper arm contact unit  33  serves to transfer a traction force from the traction unit to the upper arm C (so that a reaction force is generated in the upper arm C). 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a distal base unit  38  and a hand-side coil fixing unit  39 . The distal base unit  38  has a substantially tapering shape (a cone shape that follows the shape of the back of a hand of the patient), and is fixed to a part of the patient (a wrist or the back of the hand) that is more distal than the affected part. The hand-side coil fixing unit  39  is fixed to the distal base unit  38  through a frame  40 , and the left end of the coil spring  37  is fixed to the hand-side coil fixing unit  39 . 
     In the second embodiment, the coil spring  37  is disposed between the upper-arm-side coil fixing unit  36  and the hand-side coil fixing unit  39 . The coil spring  37  is a compression spring that generates a force in a direction in which the distance between the upper-arm-side coil fixing unit  36  and the hand-side coil fixing unit  39  is increased (and thereby “a fractured part of the forearm B between the upper-arm-side coil fixing unit  36  and the hand-side coil fixing unit  39 ” is pulled).  FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate an adjustment screw  41  and an angle adjustment screw  50 . The adjustment screw  41  is used to adjust the distance between the upper-arm-side coil fixing unit  36  and the hand-side coil fixing unit  39  (the length of the coil spring  37 ) so that the force of the coil spring  37  can be adjusted. The angle adjustment screw  50  is used to adjust the angle of the coil supporting unit  35  with respect to the vertical direction of  FIG. 9B . 
     Because the second embodiment has the structure described above, when a part of the forearm B of a patient is fractured, the fractured part can be continuously pulled by attaching the fracture treatment, device according to the second embodiment to the upper limb of the patient, i.e., by fixing or attaching the proximal base unit  31  to a part of the patient between an upper arm and the fractured part and fixing or attaching the distal base unit  38  to a part of the patient between the fractured part and the end of the hand. With the second embodiment, the patient can receive traction treatment very easily, because traction treatment can be performed by only attaching the fracture treatment device to the upper limb of the patient. In the second embodiment, the distal base unit  38  may include a mechanism for adjusting the position at which the frame  40  is attached to the distal base unit  38 . In the second embodiment, a length adjustment mechanism such as a turnbuckle may be disposed in a middle part of the frame  40 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified in various ways. For example, in the first embodiment, a finger trap is used as the brace  10  for pulling a finger of a patient. However, if a fractured part is in a forearm of the patient, a known orthopedic appliance such as a polyurethane rubber sheet or a bandage may be used to hold or fix the forearm or the like of the patient. In the first embodiment, the splint unit  1  (base unit) can serve as a splint for fixing an affected part of a patient in the case of a fracture. However, an actual splint may be disposed between the splint unit  1  and a forearm B of a patient. In the second embodiment, the coil spring  37  (compression spring) is used as an extension unit that generates a force in a direction in which the distance between the proximal base unit  31  and the distal base unit  38  is increased. However, in the present invention, for example, a motor (linear motor or the like) may be used instead of the coil spring  37  to adjust the force oriented in the direction in which the distance between the proximal base unit  31  and the distal base unit  38  is increased (and the adjusted state may be maintained by using a certain mechanism).