That belly buster splint

[Taneesha]

I remember reading a post on the belly buster splint from Francine and now I can't find it. I had a question about it because we are having trouble getting the elbow to extend the rest of the way. What is the difference between the belly buster and a regular splint? What purpose does putting the tub in the splint to form it that way? I guess I don't understand all about it so I am looking for some help.

[AlannahD]

Francine has posted on her injured newborn site all about their experience with serial casting and the splint. Injured newborn.com. CMB

[F-Litz]

HI Taneesha. Shamesless plug: The bellybuster splint is by far the best elbow extension splint Maia has ever had and she's had quite a few. I have pictures of it on my website http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia8 - go to the Life Plan pages.

Maia has been troubled with an elbow contracture since she was 2 years old. We tried Dynasplint, Ultraflex and then she even had surgery. Dynasplint kept on turning around in the middle of the night. Ultraflex worked well but couldn't get past the last ten degrees. Surgery got her full range but didn't last more than a year. So we were contracted again...so this time we did serial casting for a little while and then a bellybuster was made for her.

Basically as you will see from the pictures, the belly buster splint is a REGULAR elbow extension splint - with one exception. There is an area that pops out - in the area where the crook of the elbow is. Because you have this extra space, you can push on the elbow bone and get that last 10 degrees. Strapping right on the elbow holds that stretch position.

Most splints don't have strapping across the elbow bone like that because it may risk the ulnar nerve but we have double padding there and Maia has been made aware that if she gets any tingling or sensation, she is to rip the splint off (happened only 3 times in many months and corrected by just loosening up the straps).

The "pop out" is simply made by putting a small putty container on the crook of the elbow when they apply the warm splint material on the arm to mold it to the shape of the arm. (then the putty container is removed before it cools and you have an open space there).

The pictures show it as best I could. The way the straps are put on is also most important because if you don't secure the elbow in, you will lose that 10 degree push in.

We were told that Maia would get a regular elbow extension splint in time but I don't think so. I think that we will need to stretch this last 10 degrees forever. Maia is very internally rotated and during the day with her activities she is strengthening her internal rotation and when nighttime comes, she is really tight again. So I think it's going to be belly buster for a long time.

-francine
franlitz@gmail.com


PS. Thanks to Renee once again for making this splint for Maia!! YAY Renee!!

[momgg1]

Thanks Francine for the excellent information. I plan to ask our OT about it. Grace continues to struggle w/ bicep contracture also.

It is ironic that this is posted now b/c we are still struggling with the Dynasplint. We are now on our third rep. in 2 years. We will meet w/ her today. She has a marketing degree and no medical background. She wanted my daughter to be the first pediatric fit for her. I declined to be a test project. I had little to no luck with the territory manager by him stating most of the reps have no medical background, but have "extensive training w/ the unit." I asked why so many reps have quit & was informed they were fired due to "poor production." They are commission based. It seems so discouraging/frustrating that that a medical company hires people w/ no medical background. I encourage all using a splint to question the reps background and experience b/c we have had several bad fits w/ dynasplint not properly fitted/using wrong parts/padding issues. We are very fortunate to have a wonderful OT that continues to help us. She will be meeting w/ us to oversee the recuffing of the unit today.

Thank you for letting me vent about a two year battle. I look forward to discussing other options presented here w/ our OT. Have a great weekend!

[F-Litz]

We had the same "rep" problem with Dynasplint. He was clueless. He actually gave Maia a knee splint for her arm - we didn't know this until someone saw Maia's picture online and told us. I believe that the weight of this splint in combination with the position Maia slept in, and the fact that she was post surgery and not rehabbed enough, dislocated her shoulder that very first time. But outside of that, the splint turned around on its own every single night so it was shortly after that she got a dislocated elbow, too so I wouldn't be surprised that it was all related. The ultraflex splint was a much better fit - it was custom fit- they casted her arm first to get it just perfect. But we still couldn't get past that last 10 degrees. The bellybuster is so lightweight because there is no metal involved and it works. I guess that sometimes "simple" wins! Of course the colors certainly help. Maia still loves the splint.

[jill's mom]

We are going to see Jill's doctor this week and I am going to ask about her elbow flexion contracture as it seems to be worsening. I don't know if I missed it but where would you get this splint? I am assumming serial casting is done first and then this maintains it? My daughter is only 1 so this seems like it could be for an older child based on the mention of noting numbness and tingling and readjusting the splint. I just like to go in prepared to ask good questions.

[F-Litz]

Hi Jill's mom... I would not use the belly buster on a wee one who can't tell you if it's tingling. There were MANY times we had to readjust or remove and there would have been NO WAY for me to know unless Maia was able to tell me.

I would also be concerned about the weight of the other dynamic splints on a wee one's shoulder - they are heavy.

So if I were you I'd be looking at some kind of fabric based wrap around or a thin neoprene wrap that has a light stay in it to hold the arm straight at night...and do a good share of stretching whenever you can AND during nap time. You can have the therapist teach you how to do fascia release on the elbow. (warm the arm before doing stretches).

-francine

[mommieinneed]

What is the tingling from. I think whatever this is is what was going on with Maggie. She had woken up three different times after putting on her resting hand splint along with the elbow splint. I just took them off because I didnt know what was going on and she was in tears over it.

Any explanation of why this could have happened would be great. Thanks in advance.

[F-Litz]

Well with the belly buster splint the tingling means that the ulnar nerve is being compressed. It's because you are strapping over the ulnar nerve and that is why it is so hugely padded. You don't want additional nerve damage.

Leslie - have the OT check on the two splints to see what's going on. Maybe the fit needs to be adjusted?

[Kristie]

So which side of the arm is the actual splint on? For a long time Ian had a splint that was on the side opposite of the elbow with the straping going over the eblow. It didn't seem very effective. Recently I did show my therapist the belly buster splint. And I also mentioned that I wondered if it would be better for the hard side to be on the same side as the elbow. She barely looked at the photos and made Ian a splint. This is a new therapist for us and thus far I am not impressed.

So when Maia is wearing the splint what side of her arm is the hard part on? Does my question even make sense?