• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • General Ortho
  • Procedures
  • Spine
  • Upper Limb
  • Lower Limb
  • Pain
  • Trauma
  • Tumors
  • Newsletter/Updates
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Bone and Spine

Orthopedic health, conditions and treatment

Flexible Spinal Orthoses – Corsets and Belts

By Dr Arun Pal Singh

In this article
    • Sacroiliac Belt
    • Sacroiliac Corset
    • Lumbar Binder
    • Lumbosacral Corset
    • Thoracolumbosacral Corset

Flexible spinal orthoses such as corsets and belts are commonly used in the treatment of back problems.

Following types of flexible spinal orthoses are used.

Sacroiliac Belt

This is a prefabricated belt  5.1 cm to 10.2 cm (2- 4 in.) wide which encircles the pelvis between the iliac crests and the trochanters. Perineal straps may be provided to prevent upward displacement.

Sacroiliac belt stabilizes sacroiliac joints.

It is used in postpartum and posttraumatic sacroiliac separations.

Sacroiliac Corset

sacroiliac corset
Sacroiliac corset

It is a prefabricated cloth garment that encompasses the pelvis and is adjustable in circumference by means of the side, front, or back laces or hooks. Anteriorly and posteriorly, the superior border is at iliac crest level. Anteriorly, the inferior border is 1.3 cm to 2.5 cm above the pubic symphysis and posteriorly it extends to the apex of the gluteal bulge. For cosmetic reasons, the superior border may rise to just above  waist level,  and the inferior border may descend to the gluteal fold, thus reducing bulging

While not effective restricting motion, this orthosis may assist in elevating intraabdominal pressure and may be useful for postpartum and posttraumatic stabilization of pelvic joints

Additions may include posterior rigid or semirigid stays, posterior sacral pad, and perineal straps.

Lumbar Binder

This is a simple prefabricated orthosis, made fabric with elastic sections, is wrapped around the lumbar region and het in place by Velcro closure.

It provides trunk support and supports the elevation of intraabdominal pressure. It also serves to remind the patient of proper posture.

To provide increased support, a Low-temperature thermoplastic inserted into a posterior pocket.

Lumbosacral Corset

lumbosacral corset

It is the most commonly used flexible orthosis made of a cloth garment that encompasses the torso and his and is adjustable circumferentially by means of side front or back laces. Anteriorly the superior border is about half inch below xiphoid process.

The inferior border is half to one inch above the pubic symphysis.

Posteriorly, the superior border is one inch below the inferior angles of scapulae and the inferior border is just below the apex of the gluteal bulge for men and at the gluteal fold women.

The corset is usually prefabricated and may require alteration for proper fit.

If a prefabricated garment can’t be used, a custom corset may be fabricated, based upon a pattern derived from measurements of the individual patient.

The anterior and lateral trunk containments of the orthosis elevate intracavitary pressure, thus decreasing the loadings on the vertebrae and discs.

Depending on the number, placement, and rigidity of the vertical stays, three-point pressures are applied which tend to restrict spinal motion. In all cases, the corset serves as a reminder to restrict motion. It provides restraint to flexion, extension and lateral flexion but fails to control the rotation.

Necessary additions, depending on the need of the patient may include

  • Posterior rigid or semirigid stays
  • Posterior pads
  • Extra-abdominal reinforcements
  • Hose supporters
  • Perineal straps
  • Thoracic extension with shoulder straps.

The thoracic extension converts the lumbosacral corset to the thoracolumbosacral type.

Posterior stays should be shaped so as to flatten ( not maintain) lumbar lordosis.

Thoracolumbosacral Corset

thoraco lumbo sacral corset
Thoracolumbosacral corset

This flexible orthosis is a cloth garment that encompasses the torso and hips and is adjustable in circumference by means of side, front, or back laces, buckles, or hooks.

The anterior borders are generally the same as those of the lumbosacral corset. Alternatively, the anterosuperior border may terminate just below the costal margin.

Posteriorly, the superior border is approximately at the level of the scapular spines, and the inferior border is just below the apex of the gluteal bulge for men and the gluteal fold women. Shoulder straps encircle the axillae, cross posteriorly, and fasten anteriorly.

The corset is usually reinforced with posterior rigid or semirigid stays extending the full length of the orthosis. The corset, usually a prefabricated garment, should fit all body contours snugly.

The corset offers the following functions

  • Trunk stabilization
  • Elevates intracavitary pressure to decrease loadings on vertebrae and discs.
  • Restrict spinal motion. In all instances, the corset serves as a reminder to restrict motion. The orthosis provides a restriction to flexion and extension mainly. Lateral flexion and rotation are less affected.

Optional additions include posterior pads, extra abdominal reinforcement, hose supporters, and perineal straps.

Shoulder straps should be padded to prevent discomfort in the areas of the axillae and superior surface of the shoulders.

Spread the Knowledge
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Filed Under: General Ortho

About Dr Arun Pal Singh

Arun Pal Singh is an orthopedic and trauma surgeon, founder and chief editor of this website. He works in Kanwar Bone and Spine Clinic, Dasuya, Hoshiarpur, Punjab.

This website is an effort to educate and support people and medical personnel on orthopedic issues and musculoskeletal health.

You can follow him on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Siblings ( 8,2 years old) with Pseudoachondroplasia. Note rhizomelic shortening, genu valgum, exaggerated lordosis, and normal facies

Pseudoachondroplasia Presentation and Treatment

Pseudoachondroplasia is a rare, inherited disorder that causes short stature and affects 1 in 30,000 people. The condition is also referred to as pseudoachondroplastic dysplasia or pseudoachondroplastic spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. It is a form of dwarfism. Persons with pseudoachondroplasia have normal intelligence, head size, and facial features. But are small in stature [Average male is around […]

orthopedics complications of trauma

Orthopedic Complications of Trauma

Trauma is a major health disrupter and responsible for the morbidity of a large number of people in addition to being a leading killer. Trauma can injure any organ but in this article, we would concentrate on musculoskeletal parts only. From the this point of view, the major orthopedic complications of trauma are Acute respiratory […]

frostbite

Frostbite – Injury, Presentation and Treatment

Frostbite is a freezing injury caused by cold exposure, most commonly affecting fingers, toes, and feet. At Risk People Frostbite occurs in people who are exposed to extremely cold temperatures like soldiers, homeless people, outdoor workers, skiers, and climbers or anyone with exposure to cold. People with the peripheral vascular disease, people on medications like […]

Classification of Atlantoaxial Rotatory Subluxation

Atlantoaxial Rotatory Subluxation

Also called atlantoaxial rotatory fixation, atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation is a condition where there is a fixed rotation of C1 over C2. This condition occurs when normal motion between the atlas and axis becomes limited or fixed either spontaneously or following minor trauma [which usually is the case]. It can also or follow an upper respiratory […]

complex-regional pain syndrome lower limb

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or CRPS

Complex regional pain syndrome or CRPS is a chronic painful condition causing intense pain, usually in the arms, hands, legs, or feet. The cause of condition is poorly understood and there is no cure. The management involves control of symptoms by various modalities. The condition It may happen after an injury to a nerve or […]

Enchondromatosis or ollier disease upper limb

Ollier Disease – Causes, Presentation and Treatment

Ollier’s disease is a rare, nonhereditary skeletal disorder characterized by a multifocal intramedullary proliferation of hypercellular dysplastic cartilage. It is a type of enchondromatosis. Maffucci’s syndrome is another type of enchondromatosis where the skeletal lesions are accompanied by hemangiomas of skin, soft tissu, and viscera. Enchondromatosis represents a distinct developmental disorder of enchondral ossification and […]

pigmented villonodular synovitis

Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis

Pigmented villonodular synovitis is a slow growing, benign, and locally invasive tumor of the synovium which affects synovial lined joints, bursae, and tendon sheaths. It commonly occurs in knee followed by hip, ankle, and elbow. In this disease, the synovial membrane proliferates and its surface develops nodules and villi. It also turns into brown color. […]

Browse Articles

Footer

Pages

  • About
    • Policies
    • Contact Us

Featured Article

Sacral Fractures – Presentation and Treatment

Sacral fractures are common in pelvic injuries and associated with 30-45% cases. About a quarter of sacral fractures are associated with neurologic … [Read More...] about Sacral Fractures – Presentation and Treatment

Search Articles

© Copyright: BoneAndSpine.com