[Stress relief of the hip joint by the Thomas splint]

The Thomas Splint is mainly administered to relieve weight from the hip joint. Theoretically the leg is bypassed by transmitting the body weight directly from the pelvis to the floor.--Load transmission via a Thomas Splint was measured with an orthosis strain gauged at the ischial interface area and at the foot plate. The results show, that about one half of the weight will bypass the joint through the orthosis. The Thomas splint ist unsuitable in cases when complete weight relief from the hip joint is necessary.--These results did not depend on whether the floor was flat or ascending, or whether stairs were climbed. The lateral bar never carried more then 25% of the force transmitted.