Patent Publication Number: US-2002002348-A1

Title: Low profile metacarpal fracture brace

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to the field of medical braces for fractures involving bones of the hand and more particularly to a brace for immobilizing fractures of metacarpal bones while allowing some freedom of finger movement.  
       [0003] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] Conventionally, when fractures of hand bones occur, physicians generally employ immobilization using traditional methods such as employing casts or splints. This is particularly traditional for treating 4th and 5th metacarpal fractures of hand bones. Such traditional methods greatly restrict movement of the fingers and thereby increase the likelihood of joint stiffness. Furthermore, casts or splints greatly restrict active lifestyles and are not suited to be worn in sporting or industrial settings. Also, conventional casts or splints greatly reduce the ability of a patient to bathe such the cast or splints are not readily removable.  
       [0005] Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a fracture brace which is easier for a physician to apply than other traditional methods, particularly for treating fourth and fifth metacarpal fractures. The fracture brace should be designed to immobilize fractures of the metacarpals and should have a low profile so that the brace may be employed in active lifestyles and is suitably removable for patient bathing.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties are avoided by the present invention which provides a fracture brace having a U-shaped member with an inner, soft-cushioned layer carried on an outer rigid layer defining an open inner cavity for receiving and supporting the underside of the user&#39;s hand, adjacent to the metacarpal grouping of hand bones. The member is held in position by a strapping system which includes a lower wrist strap, a middle palm strap and an upper palm strap immediately below the fingers. One end of each strap is fixed to the backside of the member and the fixture to the member includes a loop associated with each strap. Each strap further includes a two-component hook and pile fastener or connection. The pile component of the fastener is carried along the backside of each strap and each strap terminates with a free-end carrying the second or hook component of the fastener at the tip of the inside surface of each strap. The free end of each strap is adapted to be trained through associated loops of the strapping assembly. A spacer or cushion element is carried on the mid-strap and serves to cushion or separate the thumb from the index finger when the brace is worn on a hand. Therefore, it can be seen that the inventive brace extends from the base of the hypothenar eminence to beyond the fifth metacarpal-phalangeal joint to support the base of the proximal phalanx of the fifth finger. The brace member is maintained in position by the strap assembly which runs transversely around the hand.  
       [0007] Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a low-profile metacarpal fracture brace which will readily immobilize fractures of the fourth metacarpal and the fifth metacarpal in particular, while permitting limited movement of the fingers.  
       [0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a fracture brace for protecting the metacarpals of the hand which is removably held in position by a strap assembly and which can readily be removed by the person wearing the brace for bathing purposes.  
       [0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a low profile metacarpal fracture brace which allows more freedom of motion of the fingers than is conventionally available using casts or splints, thereby decreasing the likelihood of joint stiffness.  
       [0010] A further object resides in providing a low profile for a fracture brace worn on the hand which will allow the wearer or patient to engage in active lifestyles and it is particularly suited to be worn in sporting and industrial settings.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011] The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood with reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0012]FIG. 1 a prospective view of the novel low profile metacarpal fracture brace incorporating the present invention illustrating the strap assembly laid out for preparatory for placing the brace on the fractured hand of the user;  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is a reduced front elevational view illustrating the fracture brace held in position on the hand of the user by the strap assembly;  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is a view similar to the view in FIG. 2 illustrating the back of the fracture brace when worn by the user;  
     [0015]FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view of the fracture brace shown in FIG. 3 as taken in the direction of arrows  4 - 4  thereof; and  
     [0016]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the fracture brace shown in FIG. 1 illustrated in the direction of arrows  5 - 5  thereof.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0017] Referring to FIG. 1, the novel low profile metacarpal brace as illustrated in the general direction of arrow  10  which includes a rigid brace member  11  formed with a U-shaped cross section and which includes an outer rigid layer of plastic or plastic-like material and an inner layer of soft, cushioned material. The outer rigid layer is indicated by numeral  12  while the soft inner layer is indicated by numeral  13 . An opening extending along the length of the member  11  is used for inserting the fractured hand of the user, preparatory for wrapping the hand and brace member with the strap assembly.  
     [0018] The strap assembly includes multiple straps, wherein one end of each strap is secured to the member  11 . For example, a wrist strap  14  as one end selected for attachment to the brace member  11  by means of a rivet  15  that is used in order to retain one end in common for a mid or palm strap  16 . An end of an upper palm strap  17  is attached to the member  11  by a separate rivet  18 . It is to be particularity noted that each of the respective ends which are secured to the member  11  are also formed in a fold which captures attachment loops. For example, attachment loop  20  is carried at the end strap  14  while loop  21  is carried at the end of strap  16 . Loop  22  is carried on the end of strap  17 . The loops are intended to insertably receive the free ends of the respective straps after the straps have been wrapped around the member  11  and the injured or fractured hand of the user. For example, end  23  of the upper or top strap  17  is provided with one component of a two-component fastener and is identified by numeral  23  and is intended to be inserted through the loop  22  and folded over the rung of the loop for attachment to a second component of the two-component fastener which is carried on the outer surface of strap  17  and is indicated by numeral  24 . The two-component fastener is of a hook and pile type so that an adjustable fit can readily be achieved without having to align fastener components, such as is required by conventional buckles or the like. The fastener component  23  may be of a hook construction while the pile construction  24  is placed along the entire length of the strap from the component  23  to the fastener  18 . This construction is illustrated more clearly in FIG. 5. It is to be understood that straps  14  and  16  are constructed in the same manner as described with respect to strap  17  and fasten in a similar manner in that the free end of strap  16  carrying a first component  25  is passed through loop  20  and folded over for attachment with the second component of the hook and pile fastener as indicated by numeral  26 . With respect to strap  14 , the free end carrying the first fastening component  27  is passed through loop  21  and folded over the rung of the loop for attachment to the second component  28  carried on the outside of strap  14 .  
     [0019] Each of the respective straps  14 ,  16  and  17  are composed of a cloth or fabric material with the first and second components of the two-component fastener carried on the outside surfaces of the strap material. The straps are flexible and are soft so as not to cause discomfort when the straps are wound about the brace member  11  and the hand of the user.  
     [0020] The mid-palm strap  16  carries a spacer cushion member  30  which may be detachably connected to the strap  16  and may be slid along the mid-section of the strap to a desired location. It is intended that member  30  be placed between the thumb and index finger of the user when the strap assembly has been fastened.  
     [0021] It is noted in FIGS. 2 and 3 that the wrist strap  14  is trained from one rung of the loop  20  around the lower palm and a portion of the wrist of the user so that its free end and component  27  can be passed through the rung of loop  21  and folded over upon itself for securement with the second fastener component  28 . In a similar fashion, the mid or palm strap  16  is trained from one rung of the loop  21  and is fastening rivet  15  around the back of the member  11  and across the palm, as shown in FIG. 2, and having its terminating end with the first fastening component  25  inserted through and folded over the exposed rung of loop  20  so that it can be connected with the second component  26  of the fastening means. In a similar fashion, the upper strap  17  progresses from loop  22  across the palm of the user&#39;s hand immediately below the fingers as shown in FIG. 2 so that its terminating end with fastener  23  can be inserted through the loop  22  and folded over upon itself for connection to the second component  24  carried on the outside of the strap  17 . When the strap assembly is fully connected, the brace member  11  is held in position on the hand of the user and the fingers are totally exposed and permit limited movement.  
     [0022] Referring now to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the member  11  includes a rigid outside layer  12  having an inner soft or cushioned layer  13 . When carried on the hand of the user, the rigid member is particularly useful in immobilizing the fifth metacarpal which is indicated by numeral  31 .  
     [0023]FIG. 5 illustrates the strap  17  as having the second component  24  covering the entire outside length of the strap which terminates in the free end carrying the first component  23 . Also, it can be seen that the strap is held on to the brace member  11  by means of rivet  18  after the end of the strap has been folded through one rung of the loop  22 . A similar connection and construction is provided for straps  14  and  16  respectively.  
     [0024] In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a low profile metacarpal fracture brace which is designed to immobilize fractures of the fourth metacarpal and particularly the fifth metacarpal. The brace and strap assembly wraps around the ulnar border of the hand to approximately the middle of the hand on both palmar and dorsal surfaces. The brace extends from the base of the hypothenar eminence to beyond the 5th metacarpal-phalangeal joint to support the base of the proximal phalanx of the fifth finger. Brace position is maintained by the strap assembly running transversely around the hand. The brace may be manufactured in a variety of sizes as an ambidextrous construction allowing the brace to be worn on either hand. The brace can also be made specifically right or left sided wearing. The brace member material is a heat-molded plastic, such that, if desired, it can adjusted for comfort with a heat gun to soften or contour the material. The brace can be lined with either a soft gel-type padding or can be worn over a cloth stockinette material.  
     [0025] The profile metacarpal fracture brace is much easier and convenient for a physician to apply than other traditional methods of treating fourth and fifth metacarpal fractures such as casts or splints. The compact design allows more freedom of motion of the fingers than those other techniques thereby decreasing the likelihood of joint stiffness. The low-profile allows the brace to be used in active lifestyles and is particularly suited to be worn in sporting and industrial settings. Furthermore, the fracture brace is readily removable by the patient for bathing purposes.  
     [0026] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.