Happy New Year everyone
We have been referred a patient who had neck surgery for cancer which resulted in partial injury to the Accessory nerve.
The patient essentially has a protracted and depressed scapula due to weakness in the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, and now has chronic pain.
A physio has proposed that we fit an orthosis as described by Kizilay et al in 2005 and which is called an Akman-Sari orthosis. The physio has been taping the patient’s shoulder as an interim measure, and the patient has commented that her shoulder pain is improved whilst taped. However this is really not a long term solution.
Attached is a link to an image of the orthosis – https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=tp-3A__www.oandp-2Dl.org_shared_zvgsv&d=IFAg&c=JPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=yaAUHOR6gxxThvjGI9X7hrz_ONYByMAadML4fTENI&m®AGlDRu983oHrA3BDypdhvPr-gVUbkvEWZw-5poDSU&s=UY5jK99QUl85L1wwyms-_Th2f-BsvLYZQKJYAQa1M&e=
My question is has anyone made and/or fitted this type of orthosis and if so how successful was it? If not has anybody got any orthotic suggestions which may assist this patient.
Cheers and thanks
Phillip Francis CPO
Barwon Prosthetics and Orthotics P/L
Geelong, AUSTRALIA
