Orthopaedic splint FractoAid immobilises fractured limbs instantly, prevents possible disability

Image of FractoAid plaster splint used on a person's arm

Young innovator Mayur Sanas has developed a plaster splint called FractoAid. The splint that can be placed on a person with a fractured limb. It gives support to the injured limb until the person gets to a doctor.

India has the highest number of road accidents in the world. A large number of people get injured. One-third of them end up in hospitals. Many of those injured develop different kinds of disabilities. This is because they are handled badly or get to a doctor very late.

Such disabilities are preventable provided care is taken in the minutes after an accident. Just a simple splint can prevent things from getting worse. FractoAid, developed by Mayur Sanas, promises to do that.

Mayur is a Research Assistant at Biomedical Engineering and Technology Incubation Center (BETIC) at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay. The centre mentors innovators working on low cost medical devices.

Fractures tend to cause swellings during the first few days. This prevents a full plaster cast from being applied to immobilise the limb. So, doctors use a splint to accommodate the changes in the volume of the tissue that occurs due to swelling and subsiding. The splints available are ineffective or expensive. – Mayur Sanas, Innovator, FractoAid

Easy to use too

Paper is the base material of FractoAid. On this plaster rolls are stacked. Enclosing this is a fabric envelope to which Velcro straps are attached. The splint has to be dipped in water and put on the fractured body part. This is gently pressed to reach the desire shape and then strapped on. The splint dries quickly to support the fracture site. The material is comfortable, allowing the skin to breathe.

“It’s a three-step application process and is user-friendly”, says Mayur. “All you need is water to dip the splint into. FractoAid is also portable and compact”.

Professor B Ravi, Founder, BETiC and Mayur’s mentor said finding the right materials was the challenge.”They had to be the right type and thickness. This way the desired strength could be achieved with as little weight as possible”.

FractoAid is available in three versions for different age groups. The smallest is for kids between six to 10 years of age. Mayur, who is the founder of a start-up called MediAsha Technologies Pvt. Ltd., hopes to launch FractoAid in the market in the coming months.