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Protecting Oral-Facial Treatment Post Op with Innovative Pediatric Immobilizers

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Posted: March 19, 2012
Protecting Oral-Facial Treatment Post Op with Innovative Pediatric Immobilizers

Pediatric dentists and oral surgeons are forgoing makeshift immobilizers for gentler, more hygienic, kid-friendly pediatric immobilizers

No matter how skillfully pediatric dentists or oral maxillofacial surgeons treat conditions in infants and children, the benefit can quickly be compromised if young patients poke or pick at constructs, appliances, or sutures after the operation.

While sedation can be used during the operation, pediatric dentists and oral maxillofacial surgeons usually have much less control over how young patients treat the operative site post op. Without immobilization, infants and children have a natural instinct to explore where the pain is. They often probe with fingers or thumbs after surgery, which can delay recovery and make additional operations necessary if constructs or sutures are damaged.

To prevent prying fingers from compromising treatment, more pediatric dentists and oral surgeons are forgoing makeshift immobilizers for gentler, more hygienic, kid-friendly pediatric immobilizers.

Preventing Post Op Trauma
In the past, when parents and doctors have sought effective pediatric arm immobilizers, they often had to assemble makeshift devices, such as from tongue depressors and medical tape. These were often tedious to construct, remove, and were not necessarily effective in fit or function.

“Many children are curious and may not understand why their faces are numb after surgery,” says Veronica Morales, a registered dental hygienist who volunteers with Thousand Smiles Foundation, a Bonita, CA-based non-profit that donates professional medical treatment to children with oral and maxillofacial deformities (cleft palates or cleft lips). “Until the anesthesia wears off and afterward in post-op recovery, a pediatric immobilizer can prevent the child from disturbing the operative site.”

According to Morales, who works in the U.S. and does charity work in Mexico through Thousand Smiles Foundation, she’s seen everything from tongue depressors and tape to improvised water bottles used as pediatric dental arm immobilizers. “I knew there had to be a better solution,” she says.

At a California Dental Association meeting, Morales noticed an innovative type of pediatric immobilizer called Pedi-Wraps from the Medi-Kid Company (Hemet, CA). These pediatric arm, leg, and wrist immobilizers in sizes from neonatal to adult have helped over 500,000 children worldwide since 1984, when the company’s founder designed a pediatric arm immobilizer for her son following cleft palate surgery.

The innovative wraps provide a simpler, more humane approach to immobilizing children’s arms and legs. For arm applications, Pedi-Wraps cover the entire arm, and the vertical Velcro enclosure system eliminates the need to attach the device to the wrist and bicep, which can cause “compartment syndrome,” pain at pressure points.

These devices offer other design features that make them popular with kids and adults. Each immobilizer is attached to a child’s arm or leg by simply wrapping it around the limb, then using the built-in Velcro panel to secure it in place. The Velcro width allows further adjustment, assuring a comfortable yet effective fit. The Velcro straps speed application, enabling caretakers to quickly remove and re-apply Pedi-Wraps, for bathing purposes or to give the limbs a chance to relax.

“After oral surgery, Pedi-Wraps are a great post-operative arm immobilizer for a child, particularly for cleft lip/cleft palate surgery,” says Morales. “They prevent the child from touching their face and causing infection or removal of sutures. Our traveling team of oral surgeons and nurses no longer wastes time constructing makeshift arm immobilizers. After surgery, we simply wrap the Pedi-Wraps around infant’s and children’s arms with Velcro. They’re more humane.”

Unlike other types of pediatric immobilizers, Pedi-Wraps are machine washable and dryer safe. They can be wiped for immediate clean-ups. They are machine washable and autoclavable for improved hygiene and reduced skin irritation.

“Since the pediatric wraps are washable and reusable, they’re practical for home and field use,” says Morales. “Because they’re easy to use, they stay in use – which helps protect the treatment site and allows it to heal properly.”

Because children have been found to be far more receptive to wearing immobilizers they can personalize, that align with their interests from princesses to trucks and ponies, Medi-Kid offers immobilizers in over one hundred fabric options.

“The kid-friendly themes, colors, and styles make the pediatric immobilizers more fun for children, so there’s better post operative compliance,” says Morales. “This encourages healing and can make the recovery process a speedier process.”

For more info, contact The Medi-Kid Company, P.O. Box 5398, Hemet, California 92544 USA; Phone: (USA) 888-463-3543, (Outside USA) 951-925-8800; Fax: (USA) 866-633-4543, (Outside USA) 951-925-0686; E-mail: pediwraps@yahoo.com; Visit the web site: www.medi-kid.com; or look for Pedi-Wraps on Facebook.
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By Del Williams
Del Williams is a technical writer based in Torrance, California.
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