United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

It is very important to have the splint in the inside of the arm (palm side). If you put the splint on the back side you rick getting pressure sores which can get very bad very fast. I even have to be careful with the strapping I use across the back of my elbow because of pressure sores. If after you take the splint off and the bone area seems hot for like 20 min, thats not a good thing and you should change your strapping.

Hope that makes sense.
Hugs,
Amy 21 years old ROBPI from MN

There is only one possible position for the belly buster splint. The pop-out area goes in the crook of the elbow - inside the elbow. The reason this splint works well is because you can push the elbow bone in and strap it and you can actually get to that last 10 degrees.

The padding over the elbow bones is the most important part - it must be SUPER double and more padded to protect the ulnar nerve.

Interesting that my therapist didn't seem to think anything of it. I suggested moving it to the other side and she just did it. She is a therapist that is actually one who does the splints herself regularly. I will talk about it with her today. It is the strapping that I haven't had any luck with regarding getting it to hold the elbow in place so the "belly" buster part wouldn't yet make a difference for Ian. Since the splint itself is hard it holds his arm straighter. Plus she extended it all the way down to his wrist which is suppose to support it. His wrist seems to droop. They were planning to make him a splint for that for day time wear but wearing the splint "backwards" than most was going to eliminate that need.

Oh Fran... maybe you could add a photo of the splint on Maia's arm to the page. I had actually thought that one was suppose to go the opposite way of how it is being worn! Oh well!

Thus far Ian finds this to be the best splint he ever remembers wearing. I will check his arm for pressure sores. Do they look like red warm spots? Just so I know what I am looking for!

Thanks!
Blessings,
Kristie

Kristie -I put two pictures up (at the bottom)
http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia8/mylifeplan.html

Fran~
Thanks so much! Could I pester you once more though... could you show me a picture of the strapping on her arm?

Thanks!
Kristie

I didn't take any pictures of the back...but the pictures on that page show how the two straps with the padding criss cross like an X and the third strap goes right over them. Both X over the elbow bone and the 3rd one goes right over the middle of that bone.

You push the bone in first to get that extra few degrees, then you strap over...but not too tight...and if she feels tingling she rips the whole thing off for the night because I don't want to restrap over it if there's any tingling whatsover... don't want to risk it.