Orthotists are registered healthcare professionals who specialise in the assessment of the whole body for biomechanical problems and if appropriate may prescribe, measure, fit, or review an Orthosis.

An Orthosis is an externally applied device. It may also be called a ‘brace’, or ‘splint’.

The purpose and design of an Orthosis may change over time along with the changing needs of the patient.

Patients who live outside the Glasgow area who require follow-up treatment can be referred on to their local Orthotic Department where appropriate.

Many adult BPI patients do not require orthoses, and some only require simple orthoses such as WHOs to help with holding tasks. However the more seriously injured patients with total or near flail arms benefit greatly from appropriate orthoses.

The aims for an adult BPI patient with a flail or nearly flail arm are usually as follows:

• Prevent shoulder joint pain caused by subluxation (partial dislocation).
• Prevent contractures.
• Cosmesis.
• Positioning of the hand in space.

The type of orthosis that is suitable for you may be entirely different to someone else with apparently the same disability. This may be due to reasons of employment, hobbies, comfort and tolerance.

Often you will not know what is suitable until you have had some experience in wearing an orthosis. Your physiotherapist and Orthotist will be pleased to discuss your needs in further detail.

Be aware that it is often possible to highly modify orthoses to enable participation in sports or employment that you thought you could never do again.