Custom Made Occupational Therapy Adaptive Devices Designed for Patients beside Cancer

Occupational therapists play an exalted role in providing patients beside adaptive devices to improve function and part of life. The career therapy department at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have created several custom made devices that improve the functional nouns of patients with cancer. The purpose of this treatise is to describe the design and use of 3 custom made devices: a tailored scrotal support, a pediatric chest guard, and a four-quarter amputation prosthesis.

The occupational psychoanalyst plays an important role within the care and treatment of individuals near cancer and therefore, their presence have expanded in the oncology rehabilitation process. Occupational psychotherapy interventions include education on the use of vitality conservation techniques, assistive technology, and movement adaptation to resume functional on a daily basis routines.1 The use of custom made devices and orthoses helps minimize dysfunction, continue functional positions, and provide protection to various body parts.2 As a result, patients are competent to resume normal day by day activities and realize independent mastery of life functions.1

The employment therapy department at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have created several adaptive devices to enhance patients' abilities to join in their day by day routines, as well as to rearrange their physical appearance and body image. Three examples of custom made devices designed for patients beside cancer are a tailored scrotal support, a pediatric chest guard, and a four-quarter amputation prosthesis.

TAILORED SCROTAL SUPPORT

The tailored scrotal support is designed specifically for male patients near lymphedematous genitals and lower extremities resulting from various forms of cancer and cancer-related treatments. These patients regularly have difficulty near functional mobility due to increased genital swelling and discomfort. Each patient is measured and next fit with individually fabricated supports that function as a jock strap, providing compression and elevation to the genital nouns. The material used to fabricate the support includes a waist strap made from doubled stockinette and a genital support made from yawning Tubigrip that forms a pouch for the enlarged scrotum and genitals. Velcro is sewn into the stockinette waist strap so patients can donn and doff the support independently. Patients who have used the tailored scrotal support hold shown an improved flair to complete functional mobility and out of bed activities beside less discomfort (Figure 1).

PEDIATRIC CHEST GUARD

The pediatric chest guard is designed for children who enjoy had surgery contained by the thoracic region or who have have a mediport placed in their upper chest wall. As these children resume university and play activities, they require protection to prevent trauma to their chest, trunk, or mediport site. The first step to making the chest guard involves taking individual measurements and creating a template. Splinting material is molded to the lenient's chest and back so that the finale product contours to the patient's body and allows the upper extremities freedom of movement. An anterior chest piece and a posterior put a bet on piece are held in place using riveted straps made from stockinette and Velcro strips. The chest guard allows children to undamagingly return to their normal each day activities, such as association in gym classes, playing beside friends, or engaging contained by extracurricular sports. The use of the chest guard reassures parents that their children can without risk resume active lives, while their children regain confidence and a sense of normalcy in their lives (Figure 2A and 2B).

FOUR QUARTER AMPUTATION PROSTHESIS

The four quarter amputation prosthesis is designed for patients following the surgical removal of an upper extremity that may include the humerus and portions of the clavicle. This type of surgery alters a patient's physical appearance, symmetry, and body print. The first step in the forgery of the prosthesis involves measuring the long-suffering's noninvolved shoulder. The prosthesis is then fabricated using stockinette complete with cotton bat and foam to create the appearance of a normal shoulder when worn below clothing. Patients who have worn the four-quarter amputation prosthesis following surgery own demonstrated an improved sense of body depiction and are less self conscious when returning to work and social happenings (Figure 3A and 3B).

CONCLUSION

Occupational therapists play an big role in the rehabilitation of individuals following surgery and treatment for cancer. Patients who go through various cancer treatments may require specialized protection and becoming accustomed in proclaim to resume normal on a daily basis activities. Occupational therapist have the skills to design diverse custom made adaptive devices to improve function, provide protection, and enhance body dummy for this patient population. Descriptions of 3 adaptive devices be presented in this article. There continues to be a have need of for further development and study of the use and efficacy of this equipment to donate to the clinical knowledge stub of therapists who treat patients near cancer.