Catapult splint: a foot dorsiflexion assist splint

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Engineering

Background:

• Loss of foot dorsiflexion commonly occurs with external fixator or Ilizarov assembly use.
• This impairment negatively impacts the gait cycle's swing phase.
• A novel dynamic dorsiflexion assist splint was developed to address this issue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a simple, dynamic splint for preventing and correcting foot equinus/cavus deformities.
• To maintain normal dorsiflexion during external fixation treatment.
• To evaluate the efficacy of a low-cost dorsiflexion assist splint.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 50 patients utilizing a novel catapult-styled rubber splint.
• The splint was constructed from recycled car rubber tubes and attached to the external fixator frame.
• Application timing varied: some patients received it for existing dorsiflexion loss, others prophylactically, and some for cavus deformity.

Main Results:

• Complete recovery of dorsiflexion was observed in 10 out of 17 patients with initial loss.
• Prophylactic application in 22 patients resulted in a normal ankle range of motion.
• The splint successfully corrected cavus deformity in all 6 cases and prevented it in 5 others.

Conclusions:

• The catapult splint is an effective, low-cost solution for assisting foot dorsiflexion.
• It aids in the prevention and correction of equinus and cavus deformities.
• This dynamic splint improves functional outcomes in patients undergoing external fixation.