Shants collar - application, indications and contraindications

The Shants Orthopedic Collar is an orthosis that stabilizes the cervical spine. It is used mainly after injury or accidents, to prevent more serious degenerative damage to the cervical and spinal cord regions, and to reduce pain resulting from potential damage to the joints and muscles of the neck.

Why is Shants' collar so called?

In the 19th century, the German physician Alfred Schanz created an elementary structure to fix the cervical spine in an anatomically correct position. For this, he took a twisted piece of ordinary medical cotton and wrapped it in a cloth, after which a simple device was tied around the neck to support the head and help relax the neck muscles. Nowadays, this design is called "Shants collar (or bus)." Its purpose is to fix the cervical vertebrae and prevent their further deformation.

Features of the orthopedic collar

The Schanz collar is anatomically designed so that the emphasis on the lower jaw is even. Its edges are soft and meticulously finished so that it does not crush or cause discomfort while wearing. The brace is fastened with Velcro located at the back. It can be easily adjusted, since the fastener has a large adjustment range for the flange circumference. The fabric covering the polyurethane foam, which fills the product, is pleasant in contact with the skin and is breathable.

Shants collar - indications for use

There are different indications for wearing such a bandage. The use of an orthopedic collar is recommended mainly for:

1. Injury to the spine or suspected injury.
2. Contusions and dislocations of intervertebral joints.
3. The need for postoperative fixation - for rehabilitation purposes.
4. Surgical treatment of jaw injuries.
5. Acute or chronic pain syndrome in the neck.
6. Curvature of the cervical vertebrae.
7. Dizziness, persistent headaches, migraines.
8. Myositis (idiopathic inflammatory myopathies).
9. Neuralgia of the neck and shoulders, rheumatic pain or stiff neck muscles.
10. Diseases of the cervical spine (degenerative changes as a result of discopathy, scoliosis or mechanical injury).
11. Risk of deformity of posture due to chronic diseases of the cervical spine.

The orthopedic collar stabilizes the neck joints and reduces sudden head movements that can exacerbate the injury. This allows the head to be properly stabilized and strengthened on both sides. The orthopedic doctor decides on the need for its use.

Contraindications to wearing a Shants collar

There are groups of patients who should avoid any traction of the cervical spine, including the use of an orthopedic brace. These include people with the following diseases:

• osteoporosis;
• instability or excessive mobility of the spine;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• recent injury to the neck or surrounding area;
• implants in the neck (for example, screws that are screwed in during surgery);
• stenosis or atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries;
• infections of the bone tissue of the vertebrae;
• tumors in the neck.

Also, you can not wear a Shants collar with carotid sinus syndrome (hypersensitivity of the receptors of the carotid arteries). People with this condition may even faint when shaving or pressing lightly on certain areas of the neck.

Duration of wearing the neck collar

The orthopedic collar must be worn for the period specified by the attending physician. It depends on the condition of the spine and the reason why it became necessary to apply a cervical corset. However, the average application time is about 6 weeks.

This time also takes into account fractures that allow the cervical spine to gradually wean itself from support, which, in turn, allows the vertebrae and neck muscles to function properly, and most importantly, independently.

In the beginning, wear the collar once or twice a day for 10-15 minutes and do not use a lot of tire pressure. Only after you get used to it, you can apply it 2-3 times a day for 30-40 minutes. Then you can also increase the pressure a little, but do not overtighten the structure. The neck brace is primarily designed to improve comfort.

The collar can be left on when you go to bed. However, while sleeping with an orthopedic cervical brace, it is worth considering purchasing a medical orthopedic pillow, which ensures the optimal correct position of the spine.

The Shants collar must not be used for too long (more than 4 hours a day), as this can cause impaired blood supply to the brain and atrophy of the neck muscles (muscle weakness).

It is necessary to stop treatment therapy if significant discomfort, increasing pain in the neck and occiput, nausea, severe dizziness or other alarming symptoms appear. However, some discomfort resulting from the pressure of the splint on the lower jaw should not lead to pre withdrawal of therapy if it is mild and well tolerated by the patient.

How to choose an orthopedic collar size?

The size of the Shants collar must be selected purely individually, based on the anatomical structure of the neck. To correctly select the size of the bandage, it is enough to measure the neck circumference and its height from the protruding clavicle bone (in an adult it is usually 10-12 cm).

Based on this, it will be possible to choose a version of the product that is ideal both in width and height, because the collar should not raise the chin, but only serves as its support. The sizes of the collars are indicated in the same way as the clothes: XS, S, M, L, XL, where XS is the smallest collar, and XL is the largest.

It is not recommended to choose an orthopedic corset on your own, so as not to make a mistake. When buying, you should seek the help of a specialist who will help you choose the correct splint size - for the best treatment results.

At what age can the Shants splint be used?

A collar of soft fixation made of hypoallergenic material is very often prescribed as a treatment or prophylaxis even for newborn babies - after a difficult birth, with muscle torticollis syndrome, as well as other pathologies. The size range for the smallest patients depends on the length of the neck (mostly 3-7 cm). Duration of wearing is about 2 months.

How to keep Shants collar clean?

For patients using long-acting products that come in direct contact with the skin, such as neck collars, it is very important to keep them properly clean. If necessary, it can be hand washed in water at a temperature not exceeding 30 ᵒC.

The bandage must not be wrung out or dried in the washing machine. Squeezing out the water lightly, it is best to leave it unwrapped to dry freely. The product must be completely dry before use. Orthoses cannot be ironed.

You can buy Shants collars in the online store of medical equipment "Medica" at the best prices. In our offer you will also find an orthodontic cervical retractor. Delivery of goods is carried out throughout Ukraine.