Treatment of knee disorders in veterinary medicine
The present invention provides an external brace, an orthosis, for treating disorders of joints in dogs and cats. The most relevant veterinary indication is a hock joint brace to treat cranial cruciate disease in dogs.
1 . A brace adapted for application to a hock joint of an animal, the brace comprising a first main component comprising a hard shell and a padding and a second main component comprising a hard shell and a padding, wherein the first and the second main components are connected by at least two sets of straps into a clam-shell-like construct configured to surround the joint thereby limiting its flexion-extension range of movement, wherein the first main component is adapted to fit a caudo-plantar aspect of a distal hind limb of the animal and the second main component is adapted to fit cranio-dorsal aspects of the distal hind limb, and wherein the brace is adapted to hold the hock joint angle close to full extension, wherein a distal end of the hard shell of the first main component comprises a removable rubber pad.
2 . The brace according to claim 1 , wherein the hock joint angle is in a range from 145 to 170 degrees.
3 . The brace according to claim 1 , which is adapted for application to the hock joint of a dog.
4 . The brace according to claim 1 , wherein the hock joint angle is about 155 degrees.
5 . The brace according to claim 4 , wherein the padding allows for movement within the brace in a range from 5 to 10 degrees.
6 . The brace according to claim 1 , wherein the hard shell of the first main component is provided with an opening at the position of the calcaneus.
7 . The brace according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the straps is adjustable.
8 . The brace according to claim 1 , wherein the straps comprise at least one hook and loop fastener band set comprising a plurality of hook and loop fastener bands.
9 . The brace according to claim 8 , wherein the straps comprise at least one hook and loop fastener band set comprising three hook and loop fastener bands.
10 . The brace according to claim 1 , wherein the hard shell of the first main component and/or the hard shell of the second main component is made from a thermoplastic material.
11 . The brace according to claim 10 , wherein the thermoplastic material is a composite of wood and a biodegradable polymer.
12 . The brace according to claim 1 , wherein the removable rubber pad is provided in several different lengths.
13 . The brace according to claim 1 , adapted to treat cranial cruciate ligament disease of the stifle.
14 . The brace according to claim 1 , made in several sizes for animals.
15 . A method for treatment of a joint disorder in an animal, the method comprising applying to a hock joint a brace comprising a first main component comprising a hard shell and a padding and a second main component comprising a hard shell and a padding, wherein the first and the second main components are connected by at least two sets of straps into a clam-shell-like construct around the joint thereby limiting its flexion-extension range of movement, wherein the first main component is adapted to fit a caudo-plantar aspect of a distal hind limb of the animal and the second main component is adapted to fit cranio-dorsal aspects of the distal hind limb, and wherein the hock joint angle is close to full extension.
16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the disorder is stifle disorder, and the brace is applied to the hock joint.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the stifle disorder is a cranial cruciate ligament disease of the stifle.
18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the animal is a dog.
19 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the hock joint angle is in the range from 145 to 170 degrees.