Surgical limb supporting apparatus with tension measuring device

Abstract

A limb holding device designed to be attached to an operating table to immobilize a patient's arm or leg during arthroscopic surgery or the like. It provides for distraction of the hip joint or other joint being worked on, and also provides for reduction and maintenance of position of fractures of the arm or leg. The device includes a pair of vertical upright supports braced by an adjustable connecting bar, and a fork-like member has a canvas or plastic cradle stretched between its two tines, a plurality of straps to immobilize the patient's limb on the cradle, a padded shoe-like or plate-like device to hold the foot firmly, and a handle to facilitate manipulation of the limb and to place the proper traction forces thereon. A tensiometer is integrated into the fork-like member to allow direct and accurate indication of the traction force being placed on the limb. Once the desired position of the limb and joint is achieved, the various adjustable clamps and stop nuts may be secured to lock the device in that position during surgery.