ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LOWER LIMB ELEVATION AND STABILIZATION
In the context of medical recovery from injury and/or surgery to a lower extremity, a device may be used to provide elevation and support for an ankle along with restraint against knee rotation of a patient. The device may include a generally flat main body, two spaced-apart lateral ridges extending along or near lateral edges of the generally flat main body, and a medial depression between the lateral ridges that provides a support surface on which the ankle may be positioned.
1 . A device for supporting and elevating an ankle and restraining foot and leg rotation of a patient in a supine position, comprising:
a generally flat main body,
two spaced-apart lateral ridges extending along or near lateral edges of the generally flat main body,
a medial depression between the lateral ridges that provides a support surface on which the ankle may be positioned, and
wherein the lateral ridges confine and restrain a foot placed therein to limit or prevent rotation of the foot and leg.
2 . A device as in claim 1 , further comprising a ridge extending along or near a distal end of the medial depression to further restrain the patient's ankle.
3 . A device as in claim 2 , wherein the ridge at the medial section is continuous with the lateral ridges so as to form one continuous ridge.
4 . A device as in claim 1 , wherein the support surface is curved.
5 . A device as in claim 1 , wherein the support surface is generally flat.
6 . A device as in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a proximal upper surface of one of the spaced-apart lateral ridges has a downward slope declining towards a proximal end.
7 . A device as in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a distal upper surface of one of the spaced-apart lateral ridges has a downward slope declining towards a distal end.
8 . A device as in claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises open cell polymer foam.
9 . A device as in claim 8 , wherein the polymer foam is coated with a flexible, fluid-impermeable polymer coating.
10 . A device as in claim 1 , wherein the device comprises radiolucent material.
11 . A device as in claim 1 , wherein the main body has a height and/or flexibility, coupled with sufficient firmness, so as to maintain a minimum elevation of the patient's ankle of one inch, from an upper surface of a supporting surface, during use.
12 . A device as in claim 10 , wherein the main body has a firmness with sufficient yield to reduce pressure at and provide a comfortable support for high-pressure, soft-tissue areas.
13 . A device as in claim 1 , wherein the main body is contoured to approximately fit against one or more of the lower leg, heel, ankle region, and talus of the patient.
14 . A device as in claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary pad configured to be positioned directly beneath the main body to further elevate the patient's ankle during use.
15 . A device as in claim 1 , further comprising a medial ridge which extends along or near a distal end of the medial depression to further support the foot and provide a surface which prevents plantar flexion of the foot.
16 . A method for elevating and restraining a patient's ankle during a recuperative period, such as would be expected following a surgical procedure or injury, comprising:
providing a stable, relatively flat platform;
placing the device of claim 1 on an upper surface of said platform;
positioning the device underneath the ankle region of the patient, thereby elevating the ankle of the patient; and
limiting or preventing ankle and leg rotation to protect a knee of the patient.
17 . A method as in claim 16 , wherein the platform comprises a radiolucent surgical table.
18 . A method as in claim 16 , wherein the platform comprises a bed.