Clinical application of a novel upper limb restraint device in free scapular flap transplantation surgery: a prospective study

Abstract

This study aims to compare the clinical efficacy of a traditional upper limb restraint method versus a novel upper limb restraint device, evaluating their respective outcomes in scapular flap surgery. Thirty patients who underwent circumflex scapular flap surgery in our hospital from March 2022 to March 2023 were selected. Using a single-blind design, patients were divided equally into a control and an experimental group. The control group received conventional upper limb fixation during surgery, while the experimental group was immobilized using the novel restraint device. The primary outcome was the rate of restraint loosening during surgery. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of postoperative upper limb pressure injuries, patient comfort scores, and satisfaction scores from medical staff. The restraint loosening rate was 6.67% in the experimental group compared to 20.00% in the control group. Assessments of skin pressure injury risk using the Braden Scale showed that the experimental group had significantly higher scores on postoperative day 1 and day 3, indicating lower risk, compared to the control group. Patient comfort scores were significantly higher in the experimental compared with the control group. These preliminary findings suggest that the novel upper limb restraint device may enhance surgical operability and patient protection. It appears to reduce patient discomfort and promote rapid postoperative recovery.