THE CHALLENGING EXTREMITY
Sandi Williamson
Regional Cancer Center
Erie, Pennsylvania
The ALPHA CRADLE® system is a unique device that can help simplify the sometimes complex and difficult extremity setup. The possibilities of uses vary as vastly as the variety of patients. So to take the challenge out of the challenging extremity, try an ALPHA CRADLE® form.
Gone are the days of sandbags, endless rolls of tape and sponges, thanks to the ALPHA CRADLE® device! The custom made molds offer a safe and comfortable means of reproducing patient positioning and treatment setups.
Examples of recent cases utilizing the ALPHA CRADLE® system for positioning extremities include the treatment of a talus bone and a distal tibia. The casts were prepared with minor deviations to the manufacturer’s directions. The molds were made directly on the simulation table rather than using the ALPHA CRADLE® MOLD MAKER II unit. The advantage the simulator table provided was a flat service on which to work that could be reproduced on the treatment couch. The edges of the ALPHA CRADLE® bag were secured, rolled up and fastened leaving about six inches on either side of the leg. The simulation therapist held the patient’s leg down so as the foam expanded it shaped around the leg leaving a deep indentation for future positioning. If the leg had not been held down, the foam would have pushed the leg up and created a “pillow” underneath.
Custom blocks were fabricated and both patients received ten fractions of radiation. Because of the reproducibility of the setup, no repeat port films had to be taken. Polaroid pictures taken of the patient setups showed the positions were comfortable and relatively natural, not awkward.
The manufacturer highly recommends wearing gloves and a gown while preparing casts. This is to prevent any spilled material from coming in contact with the skin or clothing.
For dosimetric purposes no additional compensation was utilized. The physics staff determined that the attenuation factor for the ALPHA CRADLE® was 1.0.
The ALPHA CRADLE® brand Patient Repositioning System allows you to secure pediatric patients comfortably while positioning the body for optimal treatment, yet another advantage! This results in a reproducible setup day after day. The actual creation of the cast can be turned into “game” by watching the ALPHA CRADLE® bag of material foam up around the body, and feelings of a warm sensation. The whole process can help alleviate some anxiety in young children.
Foam-filled bag easily conforms to any shape or size anatomy.
Lower extremity is placed deep in the form.
Movement during treatment is all but eliminated.
Duplication of set-up is easily achieved with repositioning forms.