Modified axillary crutches for an adolescent with bilateral congenital transverse deficiencies of the radius and ulna and no hands.

Abstract

This report describes the construction of modified axillary crutches for a patient who had bilateral congenital transverse incomplete deficiencies of the radius and ulna and no hands. Before physical therapy, the patient underwent a left pangeniculate percutaneous epiphysiodesis of the distal femoral and proximal tibial physis, causing him to be temporarily non-weight-bearing on the left lower extremity. The patient lacked both hands; therefore, he was unable to use crutches. Traditional axillary crutches were modified with permanent bilateral casts at the axilla/arm region to facilitate use by the patient. Using the modified axillary crutches, he ambulated independently and climbed and descended stairs with contact guard assist, while maintaining the non-weight-bearing status of the left lower extremity.