Accessory Device for an Orthopedic Fixator

Abstract

An accessory device for an external orthopedic fixator where the fixator has an external frame made up of frame components which surround the lower leg and ankle of a patient with one or more transfixation wires fixed thereto. The accessory device includes a foot plate which connects to one of the fixator frame components for supporting the sole of a patient's foot. The accessory device also includes a companion shroud which is wrapped about the fixator with the fixator being received within the interior of the shroud. The shroud has a width and height which are sufficient to conceal the fixator within the shroud interior. The shroud has fabric hook and loop fastener regions which allow it to be easily installed and removed from about the fixator.

1 . An accessory device for an external orthopedic fixator used to stabilize a patient's foot and ankle, where the fixator has an external frame made tip of a plurality of frame components which surround the lower leg and ankle of a patient with one or more transfixation wires fixed thereto, the accessory device comprising:
 a foot plate having an upper surface used for supporting the sole of a patient's foot and having an oppositely arranged lower surface and an intermediate thickness, the foot plate having a plurality of connector elements mounted thereon, the connector elements having exposed upper extents extending upwardly from the upper surface of the foot plate, the upper extents being matingly engageable with at least one of the frame components of the fixator for securing the foot plate to the fixator and for supporting the patient's foot, the foot plate also having a peripheral outer edge which includes a connector region;   a flexible shroud having an overall width and height, an exterior and an interior and a longitudinal seam which allows the shroud to be wrapped about the fixator with the fixator being received within the interior of the shroud, the shroud width and height being sufficient to conceal the fixator when the fixator is so received, the shroud having a lower peripheral edge which is provided with a connector region for matingly engaging the connector region of the foot plate, the longitudinal seam of the shroud also including a connector region for securing the shroud about the fixator.   
     
     
         2 . The accessory device of  claim 1 , wherein the footplate connector region and the shroud connector region are hook and loop type fabric connector regions. 
     
     
         3 . The accessory device of  claim 2 , wherein the connector region provided along the longitudinal seam of the shroud is a mating region of hook and loop type fabric connector fabric, the hook region being present along one exposed edge of the longitudinal seam and the loop region being provided along an oppositely arranged exposed edge of the seam. 
     
     
         4 . The accessory device of  claim 3 , wherein the shroud includes a shroud body which is formed of a synthetic fabric material, the interior of the shroud being provided with a layer of protective plastic which reinforces and protects at least a portion of the interior surface thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The accessory device of  claim 4 , wherein the connector elements which are provided on the footplate are threaded bolts which have exposed threaded extents which protrude upwardly from the upper surface of the foot plate, and wherein the frame component of the fixator which is used for securing the foot plate to the fixator and for supporting the patient's foot comprises at least one support collar having a plurality of openings therein, the openings being spaced in alignment with the exposed extents of the threaded bolts for receiving the bolts to thereby attach the foot plate to the fixator collar. 
     
     
         6 . The accessory device of  claim 5 , wherein the assembled foot plate and shroud completely enclose the fixator from beneath and on all sides. 
     
     
         7 . In combination, a fixator and accessory shroud, the combination comprising:
 an external orthopedic fixator used to stabilize a patient's foot and ankle, the fixator having an external frame made up of a plurality of frame components which surround a lower leg and ankle of a patient with one or more transfixation wires fixed thereto; and   an accessory device made up of a foot plate and a shroud, the foot plate having an upper surface used for supporting the sole of a patient's foot and having an oppositely arranged lower surface and an intermediate thickness, the foot plate having a plurality of connector elements mounted thereon, the connector elements having exposed upper threaded extents extending upwardly from the upper surface of the foot plate, the upper extents being matingly engageable with at least one of the frame components of the fixator for securing the foot plate to the fixator and for supporting the patient's foot, the foot plate also having a peripheral outer edge which includes a connector region;   the shroud having an overall width and height, an exterior and an interior and a longitudinal seam which allows the shroud to be wrapped about the fixator with the fixator being received within the interior of the shroud, the shroud width and height being sufficient to conceal the fixator when the fixator is so received, the shroud having a lower peripheral edge which is provided with a connector region for matingly engaging the connector region of the foot plate, the longitudinal seam of the shroud also including a connector region for securing the shroud about the fixator.   
     
     
         8 . The combination fixator and shroud of  claim 7 , wherein the footplate connector region and the shroud connector region are hook and loop type fabric connector regions. 
     
     
         9 . The combination fixator and shroud of  claim 8 , wherein the connector region provided along the longitudinal seam of the shroud is a mating region of hook and loop type fabric connector fabric, the hook region being present along one exposed edge of the longitudinal seam and the loop region being provided along an oppositely arranged exposed edge of the seam. 
     
     
         10 . The combination fixator and shroud of  claim 9 , wherein the shroud includes a shroud body which is formed of a synthetic fabric material, the interior of the shroud being provided with a layer of protective plastic which reinforces and protects at least a portion of the interior surface thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The combination fixator and shroud of  claim 10 , wherein the connector elements which are provided on the footplate are threaded bolts which have exposed extents which protrude upwardly from the upper surface of the foot plate, and wherein the frame components of the fixator which are used for securing the foot plate to the fixator and for supporting the patient's foot include at least one support collar having a plurality of openings therein, the openings being spaced in alignment with the exposed extents of the threaded bolts for attaching the foot plate to the fixator collar. 
     
     
         12 . A method of temporarily concealing an external fixator of the type used to stabilize a patient's foot and ankle, where the fixator has an external frame made up of a plurality of frame components which surround the lower leg and ankle of a patient with one or more transfixation wires fixed thereto, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a foot plate having an upper surface used for supporting the sole of a patient's foot and having an oppositely arranged lower surface and an intermediate thickness, the foot plate having a plurality of connector elements mounted thereon, the connector elements having exposed upper extents extending upwardly from the upper surface of the foot plate, the upper extents being matingly engageable with at least one of the frame components of the fixator for securing the foot plate to the fixator and for supporting the patient's foot, the foot plate also having a peripheral outer edge which includes a connector region;   providing a flexible shroud having an overall width and height, an exterior and an interior and a longitudinal seam which allows the shroud to be wrapped about the fixator with the fixator being received within the interior of the shroud, the shroud width and height being sufficient to conceal the fixator when the fixator is so received, the shroud having a lower peripheral edge which is provided with a connector region for matingly engaging the connector region of the foot plate, the longitudinal seam of the shroud also including a connector region for securing the shroud about the fixator;   attaching the foot plate to at least a selected one of the fixator frame components so that the foot plate supports a patient's foot;   wrapping the shroud about the fixator and the patient's lower leg, whereby the fixator is concealed within the interior of the shroud, the shroud being afixed to the foot plate by matingly engaging the connector region on the lower peripheral edge of the shroud with the connector region of the footplate, and securing the shroud about the fixator by matingly engaging the connector regions running along the longitudinal edges of the shroud seam.