1. Self-adjustable Aeroplane Splint
Simple,
Self-adjustable Aeroplane Splint
Respected seniors and fellow colleagues.
Good Afternoon
I am presenting a Simple, Self Adjustable Aeroplane splint.

2. Post-burns axillary contracture 25% patients with major burns
Position of comfort
Gravitational pull
Hypertrophic-scar
Axillary contracture is found in 25% patients with major burns.
The contributing factors are
Position of comfort adopted by the patient.
The gravitational pull on the arm, and
Hypertrophic scar contraction.

3. Static Axillary Splints
Various designs of axillary splints are available which hold the limb in a fixed position of abduction.

5. The salute splint- S.V. Abhyankar British Journal of Plastic Surgery (2001), 54, 213-215
DRAWBACK-
Inability of straps to support a heavy arm comfortably may result in poor compliance.
Furthermore, unwanted flexion contractures may occur as the shoulder is in flexion within the splint.

6. 80% 15% Compliance?? 1st week 12th week
As per literature and our observation also, patient compliance to these static splints is poor and by the 12th week, only 15% patients were using them.
The reason being:

7. Difficulty in passing through narrow spaces as buses, stairs, crowded areas, elevators, riding a vehicle.

8. User-friendly, Adjustable Maintains surgically achieved results
Ideal Axillary Splint
User-friendly, Adjustable
Prevents recurrence
Maintains surgically achieved results
Lightweight, Durable
Cost-effective
What qualifies to be an ideal axillary splint? It showed be user friendly and adjustable, prevents recurrence of contractures, maintains surgically achieved results, light weight, durable and cost effective.

9. Modified Aeroplane Splint design
Arm trough
Drop lock
Hinge Joint
Adjustable Metallic supportive bar
Wrist cockup
Oblique strap
We modified the aeroplane splint design making it adjustable by adding few components line.
1) Hinge joint for axilla
2) Drop lock with hinge joint for elbow.
3) Adjustable metallic bar with cabin hook – eye arrangement.
Other material used were Aluminum framework, Arm Trough and body shell made of polypropylene and ethaflex foam and Velcro holding straps.
Body shell
Cabin eye and hook
Pelvic band

10. 3 Levels of hook adjustments
Cabin Hook And Eye   
3 Levels of hook adjustments
130 o
110o
90o
The cabin eye and hook arrangement has 3 adjustable levels providing 90o, 110o, 130o shoulder abduction.

11. Hinge Joint
Drop Lock
The drop lock and hinge joints can be easily procured from any hardware store.

12. Duration of Splinting 3-6 months 1-3 weeks Skin grafting Flap
Duration of splinting should be atleast 3 – 6 months post skin grafting and 1 – 3 weeks post flap surgery.
1-3 weeks

13. When to start splinting ? Immediate Post-operatively.
Ideally splinting should be started immediately post-operatively.

14. Merits of self-adjustable splint
Negotiating crowded & narrow spaces
Serial stretching by increasing angles
Preoperative, postoperative, and rehabilitative
Light weight
Cost-effective
The merits of this self – adjustable splint are many, first and foremost is negotiating though crowded and narrow spaces, as seen in following video
Easy to fabricate & clean
Self-assessment tool

16. Merits of self-adjustable splint
Serial stretching by increasing angles
Preoperative, postoperative, and rehabilitative
Light weight
Cost-effective
Other merits of this splint are
Serial stretching by increasing the angles.
Pre op, post op and rehabilitative use
Light weight, cost effective.
Ease of fabrication and cleaning.
It can be used as self assessment tool by patient to detect recurrence of contracture.
Easy to fabricate & clean
Self-assessment tool

17. Reduces recurrent axillary contractures
Conclusion
Simple modification
Improves compliance
Reduces recurrent axillary contractures
To conclude,
It is a simple modification, which improves compliance and reduces recurrent axillary contracture.

18. References
Dewey WS, Richard RL, Parry IS. Positioning, splinting, and contracture management. Physical Medical Rehabilitation Clinics of North America 2011;22:229–47.
Helm P, Kevorkian G, Lushbaugh M, Pullium G, Head M,Cromes F. Burn injury: rehabilitation management in Archives Physical Medicine Rehabilitation 1982;63:6–16.
Spires C, Kelly B, Pangilinan P. Rehabilitation methods for the burn injured individual. Physical Medical Rehabilitation Clinics of North America 2007;18:925–48.
Dewey WS, Richard RL, Parry IS. Positioning, splinting, and contracture management. Physical Medical Rehabilitation ,Clinics of North America 2011;22:229–47.
References used were..

19. Thank You

20. Prototype Framework