[A Proof-of-Concept Study of Intelligent Chinese Medicine Splint for Distal Radius Fracture].

Abstract

Distal radius fracture (DRF) usually adopts static fixation method, which often leads to complications such as abnormal fracture healing and pressure injury. The reason lies in the lack of real-time regulation of fixed pressure and biomechanical feedback, which affects the functional recovery. Our team designed an intelligent and adaptive orthopedic equipment. Based on the patient's personalized three-dimensional (3D) printing architecture, the equipment system realizes light and accurate adaptation, and embeds a series of thin film pressure sensors in key anatomical parts to continuously quantify biomechanical values. Relevant data are uploaded to the cloud platform through the Internet of Things module for real-time remote monitoring by clinicians. The innovation of the system is to construct a closed-loop feedback controller by using interval type Ⅱ fuzzy logic (IT2-FLC) algorithm, which can automatically adjust the servo drive belt and dynamically adjust the pressure to adapt to the changes of limb swelling. Preliminary clinical evaluation showed that the patients in the treatment group who received intelligent splint of traditional Chinese medicine performed better in anatomical reduction and functional recovery, with a higher Cooney score (91.65 vs. 83.15) and a lower visual analogue scale pain score (VAS) (1.15 vs. 1.88). This proof-of-concept study provides a new technical paradigm for adaptive orthopedic equipment and shows a good clinical transformation prospect.