United Kingdom
Immobilization for the shoulder very much depends upon the reason for it. It can be a simple resting sling for a mild injury or undisplaced fracture or it could be needed to immobilize the entire arm after a procedure such as a rotator cuff repair. The following are shown in the order of severity
These kinds of sling are the simplest and generally used for minor surgeries or injuries
These kinds of slings may be used for a fracture clavicle (collar bone) or humerus where it has been found that high slings like these make the use of gravity to keep the fractures in alignment while they heal
After surgery such as rotator cuff repair, there are more restrictive devices to prevent any movement of the arm
The most commonly used (though there are others) is the Bradford sling which can be used with and without the additional restraint of a body strap. This used when the surgeon wants to prevent
The most restrictive of all is the Donjoy shoulder brace which holds the arm securely in the position of the surgeon's choice
After shoulder surgery, the patient may have a sling hung on an IV stand to keep the arm elevated. This is to minimize swelling rather than restraint.
These kinds of sling are the simplest and generally used for minor surgeries or injuries
These kinds of slings may be used for a fracture clavicle (collar bone) or humerus where it has been found that high slings like these make the use of gravity to keep the fractures in alignment while they heal
After surgery such as rotator cuff repair, there are more restrictive devices to prevent any movement of the arm
The most commonly used (though there are others) is the Bradford sling which can be used with and without the additional restraint of a body strap. This used when the surgeon wants to prevent
The most restrictive of all is the Donjoy shoulder brace which holds the arm securely in the position of the surgeon's choice
After shoulder surgery, the patient may have a sling hung on an IV stand to keep the arm elevated. This is to minimize swelling rather than restraint.
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