Unless your doctor has told you otherwise, your child will need to sleep in the collar. It is important that your child keeps their neck in a normal alignment while their injury heals, and this includes during sleep. When sleeping, your child should be encouraged to sleep on their back without pillows, to keep the neck as straight as possible. To help prevent falls from happening:. If you are allowed to take the collar off for washing, take the opportunity to check the skin for any areas of pressure.
If there are any areas of broken skin under the collar, have this reviewed by a doctor. If you are concerned the collar is not fitting properly, or there any marks on the skin that may have been caused by pressure, make an appointment to see your orthotist or treating healthcare provider. Your child may need to have an X-ray and review after their injury. The doctor will tell you when your child should have their follow-up appointment. If your child needed to wear their collar for 24 hours a day without removing it, after the collar is taken off the skin may be dry and itchy.
Bathe the skin with warm water and soap, and apply a plain, non-perfumed moisturiser. This will improve with time and gentle stretching, if advised. Physiotherapy is usually not needed. Why was my child told to wear the collar when no fracture was seen on x-ray? Your child may have been told to wear the collar to provide pain relief and as a precaution in case a small, subtle fracture occurred, which cannot always be seen on an X-ray. Your child will be reviewed during a follow-up clinic appointment, usually within two weeks.
Can I clean it? The collar contains soft pads to protect the skin and minimise discomfort. These pads should be washed or changed daily but only if your doctor has allowed the brace to be removed for brief periods. Use a mild soap and water to clean the pads by hand, then pat them dry with a towel and let them air-dry.
Replacement pads can be purchased if needed. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers. To donate, visit www. This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand.
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Hard collar Aspen collar. Hard collar Aspen collar If your child has had a neck injury — either a soft tissue injury e. Care at home Soft tissue injuries and fractures are painful. Wearing the collar Your doctor will let you know if your child needs to keep their collar on all the time or if it can be removed for short periods.
Sleeping Unless your doctor has told you otherwise, your child will need to sleep in the collar. To help prevent falls from happening: Use a non-slip shower mat and place it on the bath floor away from drain. Help your child get into the empty bath and sit down.
Shower hoses that fit over existing taps are available from many hardware stores. Make sure the collar does not get wet. While you are lying fl at, the other person should follow these steps: Remove the Velcro straps on each side. Remove the collar. Remove the old pads, one at a time, and replace them with the new dry pads. Adjust the pads to make sure that no plastic touches the skin. The white cotton side touches the skin and the gray side faces out. The gray side attaches to the Velcro dots on the inside of the plastic part on the collar.
Place the front piece of the collar on so your chin comes to the front edge of the chin piece. Slide the back panel under your neck from the side. Line up the back panel so that it is centered to the front panel so that the Velcro strips match up. Gently press the sides of the front panel into your neck while attaching the Velcro. Tighten the straps, one at a time, until they are the same length on both sides. The collar should fit tightly.
You can do this on your own Sit in front of a mirror. Do not move your head or neck. Undo one side of the Velcro to remove the collar, keeping one side of the Velcro still attached. Remove one piece of old padding at a time and replace each with a new, dry pad.
Put on the front of the collar fi rst so that your chin comes to rest on the chin rest. Use one hand to hold the front of the collar in place. Use your free hand to reach and bring the back piece of the collar around to the front until the pad overlaps the side panel. Adjust and tighten the straps, one at a time, until they are the same length on both sides.
Hand wash dirty pads in a sink with mild soap and water only. Wring water out thoroughly and air dry pads on a flat surface.
0コメント