Post-operative hip abduction orthosis

A post-operative hip abduction orthosis for preventing hip dislocation during recovery of a patient, comprising:

• a pelvic support adjustably positionable around the pelvic region of the patient;
• a thigh cuff adjustably positionable around the upper thigh region of the patient and spaced below the pelvic support;
• a vertically extending hip supporting brace connected between the pelvic support and the thigh cuff to extend across the thigh region of the patient, the hip supporting brace comprising an elongated rigid upper arm secured to a side of the pelvic support above the hip joint of the patient, and an elongated rigid lower arm secured to a side of the thigh cuff below the hip joint of the patient, the upper and lower brace arms extending toward the hip joint of the patient and pivotally connected to each other remote from their points of attachment to the pelvic support and thigh cuff to provide a hinge about which the upper and lower brace arms rotate on an axis adapted generally for alignment with the hip joint of the patient;
• the hip supporting brace further comprising adjustable stops for controlling the angular range of motion between the arms of the hip brace when the brace arms are rotated about the hinge axis, axially adjustable connections between the upper and lower brace arms and the pelvic support and thigh cuff, respectively, for adjusting the vertical spacing between the pelvic support and the thigh cuff;
• a layer of a non-skid material on the inside of the pelvic support for functionally securing the pelvic support to the pelvic region of the patient to prevent rotation of the pelvic support;
• a layer of non-skid material on the inside of the thigh cuff for functionally securing the thigh cuff to the upper thigh region of the patient to prevent rotation of the thigh cuff;
• a laterally rotatable attachment between the pelvic support and the upper brace arm for use in releasably adjusting and rigidly setting the rotational position of the upper brace arm on the pelvic support independently of the axial alignment between the upper brace arm and the pelvic support;
• and
• a laterally rotatable attachment between the lower brace arm and the thigh cuff for releasably adjusting and rigidly setting the rotational position of the lower brace arm on the thigh cuff independently of the axial alignment between the lower brace arm and the thigh cuff.

A post-operative hip abduction orthosis for preventing hip dislocation during recovery of a patient, comprising:

• a pelvic support adjustably positionable around the pelvic region of the patient;
• a thigh cuff adjustably positionable around the upper thigh region of the patient and spaced apart below the pelvic support;
• a vertically extending hip supporting brace connected between the pelvic support and the thigh cuff to extend across the thigh region of the patient, the hip supporting brace comprising an elongated rigid upper arm secured to a side of the pelvic support above the hip joint of the patient, and an elongated rigid lower arm secured to a side of the thigh cuff below the hip joint of the patient, the upper and lower brace arms extending toward the hip joint of the patient and pivotally connected to each other remote from their points of attachment to the pelvic support and thigh cuff to provide a hinge about which the upper and lower brace arms rotate on an axis adapted generally for alignment with the hip joint of the patient;
• the hip supporting brace further comprising adjustable stops for controlling the angular range of motion between the arms of the hip brace when the brace arms are rotated about the hinged axis, axially adjustable connections between the upper and lower brace arms and the pelvic support and thigh cuff, respectively, for use in adjusting the vertical spacing between the pelvic support and the thigh cuff, and a laterally rotatable attachment between the pelvic support and the upper brace arm for use in releasably adjusting and rigidly setting the rotational position of the upper brace arm on the pelvic support independently of the axial alignment between the upper brace arm and the pelvic support;
• and in which the lower brace arm extends laterally outwardly at an angle relative to the upper brace arm to provide a fixed abduction angle when the thigh cuff is secured to the thigh region of the patient.

A post-operative hip abduction orthosis for preventing hip dislocation during recovery of a patient, comprising:

• a pelvic support adjustably positionable around the pelvic region of the patient;
• a thigh cuff adjustably positionable around the upper thigh region of the patient and spaced below the pelvic support;
• a vertically extending hip supporting brace connected between the pelvic support and the thigh cuff to extend across the thigh region of the patient, the hip supporting brace comprising an elongated rigid upper arm secured to a side of the pelvic support above the hip joint of the patient, and an elongated rigid lower arm secured to a side of the thigh cuff below the hip joint of the patient, the upper and lower brace arms extending toward the hip joint of the patient and pivotally connected to each other remote from their points of attachment to the pelvic support and thigh cuff to provide a hinge about which the upper and lower brace arms rotate on an axis adapted generally for alignment with the hip joint of the patient;
• the hip supporting brace further comprising adjustable stops for controlling the angular range of motion between the arms of the hip brace when the brace arms are rotated about the hinge axis, axially adjustable connections between the upper and lower brace arms and the pelvic support and thigh cuff, respectively, for use in adjusting the vertical spacing between the pelvic support and the thigh cuff, and a laterally rotatable attachment between the pelvic support and the upper brace arm for use in releasably adjusting and rigidly setting the rotational position of the pelvic support relative to the upper brace arm independently of the axial alignment between the pelvic support and upper brace arm;
• in which the outer walls of the pelvic support and thigh cuff are each made from a semi-rigid, bendable polymeric material, and the brace arm connections to the pelvic support and thigh cuff comprise outwardly projecting regions molded in the pelvic support and thigh cuff outer walls, each reinforced internally by a rigid bar to hold corresponding fasteners.

A post-operative hip abduction orthosis for preventing hip dislocation during recovery of a patient, comprising:

• a pelvic support adjustably positionable around the pelvic region of the patient;
• a thigh cuff adjustably positionable around the upper thigh region of the patient and spaced below the pelvic support;
• a vertically extending hip supporting brace connected between the pelvic support and the thigh cuff to extend across the thigh region of the patient, the hip supporting brace comprising an elongated rigid upper arm secured to a side of the pelvic support above the hip joint of the patient, and an elongated rigid lower arm secured to a side of the thigh cuff below the hip joint of the patient, the upper and lower brace arms extending toward the hip joint of the patient and pivotally connected to each other remote from their points of attachment to the pelvic support and thigh cuff to provide a hinge about which the upper and lower brace arms rotate on an axis adapted generally for alignment with the hip joint of the patient;
• the hip supporting brace having a controllable angular range of motion between the arms of the hip brace when the brace arms are rotated about the hinge axis;
• axially adjustable connections between the upper and lower brace arms and the pelvic support and thigh cuff, respectively, for use in adjusting the vertical spacing between the pelvic support and the thigh cuff;
• a laterally rotatable attachment between the pelvic support and the upper brace arm for use in releasably adjusting and rigidly setting the rotational position of the upper brace arm on the pelvic support;
• and
• a laterally rotatable attachment between the lower brace arm and the thigh cuff for releasably adjusting and rigidly setting the rotational position of the lower brace arm on the thigh cuff.