Hand, wrist and forearm device patients during surgery

#Surgical procedures have evolved into a broad range of different types of operations, with patient positioning depending upon the specific procedure to be accomplished. While most general surgery is performed on a supine patient under the influence of a general anesthetic, other types of surgery require the patient to be positioned in other than a supine position, with hands and arms extended beside or tucked along the side of the patient. An example is the lithotomy position, wherein a patient is generally positioned in a modified supine position with the hips and knees flexed and the legs supported by canvas straps or stirrups, the arms and hands being placed beside the patient, often on arm boards, or loosely cradled over the lower abdomen and secured by the lower end of a blanket. Occasionally the patient may incur injury to the hands through improper positioning of the arms and hands, through pressure when a surgeon leans over and inadvertently bears against the hand, or through crush injuries when the leg portion of the surgical table is raised after the surgery is completed. During surgery a patient is unusually very vulnerable, as the patient is under anesthesia and normal pain warning reactions are blocked.

#The bones and other structure of the hands are some of the more fragile components of the human body, and oftentimes inadvertent pressure upon one or both hands, can lead to damage to the hands in the form of a broken bone or pulled tendon, soft tissue, or nerve damage, in addition to transient ischemic problems due to loss of circulation. Such problems are, of course, extremely difficult for a patient, who is often bedridden after surgery and who may have no significant ability to perform any physical act other than with his or her hands and arms. Injury to a patient's hands may deprive the patient of the only other physical activity available until the primary surgical healing process is well underway. Of course, such extra incapacity is a distraction to a positive emotional attitude of the patient during recovery. The cost of inadvertent hand and arm injuries to patients during surgery can be considerable, as the medical profession has a duty of great care during such operations, when the unconscious patient is totally at the mercy of the medical staff performing the procedure.

#Accordingly, a need exists for a device which may be applied to the hand(s), wrist(s) and lower arm(s) of a patient who is to experience general anesthesia in order to isolate the extremities of the patient from compression or other damage due to inadvertent pressure upon the hands, wrists and lower arm as the patient is positioned prior to, during, and/or after a surgical procedure.

#Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is perspective view of a surgical hand, wrist and forearm device for patients during surgery according to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, showing the direction of placement of a patient's hand, wrist and forearm within the device;

#FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the surgical device of FIG. 1, showing a closed and latched configuration thereof;

#The present invention comprises a hand, wrist and forearm device for encasing a patient's extremely during surgery, when the patient is under general anesthesia and is incapable of sensing any discomfort or pain resulting from an improperly positioned limb. In operation, one of the subject surgical devices is placed upon each hand, wrist and forearm of a patient for surgery, to isolate the hands, wrists and forearm against inadvertent pressures from the surgeon and/or medical staff as they operate, or during adjustment of the surgical table which may bring pressure to bear on the patient's extremities, etc.

#FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings provide illustrations of a first embodiment of the present surgical hand, wrist and forearm device, designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The surgical device 10 comprises opposite first and second shells, respectively 12 and 14, with each of the shells 12 and 14 being formed of a rigid material, such as a dense plastic. The specific material is not critical, except that: (1) it must be sufficiently rigid as to maintain its shape under pressure so as to insulate a hand, wrist and forearm placed therein from crushing or other injuries, and (2) the material preferably should be able to withstand sterilization procedures. High density plastics of various types have been found to meet the above requirements, depending upon their wall thicknesses. However, other materials such as corrosion resistant metals (stainless steel, aluminum, etc.) may be used if desired.

#Each shell 12 and 14 forms a concave hand receptacle or enclosure, respectively 16 and 18, with a smaller concave wrist and forearm passage end, respectively 20 and 22, extending therefrom. The hand enclosure portions 16 and 18 preferably form a generally accurate or elliptical shape along their longitudinal sections, i.e., between their wrist passage ends 20, 22 and opposite distal closed finger ends 24, 26. The hand enclosure or receptacle portions 16 and 18 may also have a semi-elliptical or accurate cross sectional shape as well, as do the wrist and forearm passage portions 20 and 22. Preferably, the two shells 12 and 14 are laterally symmetrical, as shown from the lateral cross section of FIG. 3, and are identical to one another, so no consideration is required for top and bottom orientation. While the present shells 12 and 14 have been described as having generally semi-elliptical shapes, it will be understood that this description encompasses such related shapes as ovals, semi-circular, shapes, etc., so long as the shapes are configured to fit loosely about a surgical patient's hand.