Articular part: the first Russian orthosis simulator will restore after severe injuries
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- Articular part: the first Russian orthosis simulator will restore after severe injuries
Russian specialists have created a unique orthosis simulator that simultaneously fixes the forearm and helps restore hand mobility after severe injuries and complex operations. It was originally developed for the rehabilitation of a patient after the first successful transplant of a donor forearm with a hand in the Russian Federation, performed at the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Medicine. The developers plan to launch individual production of such products, they can be used after operations on tendons, muscles and joints. For more information about the technology, see the Izvestia article.
Russia's first orthosis simulator
Sechenov University specialists, together with a major manufacturer of orthopedic products, have developed Russia's first orthosis simulator for restoring hand functions. According to the developers, the orthosis reliably stabilizes the osteosynthesis zone — the surgical fixation of bone fragments in fractures — thanks to its elongated design, which ensures the immobilization of the bones of the forearm and wrist joint. At the same time, it helps to restore finger mobility due to an openwork design with removable springs that work on stretching according to the principle of an expander.
Initially, the device was created for the rehabilitation of a patient after the first successful transplant of a donor forearm with a hand in Russia, performed at the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Medicine. To do this, the specialists prepared a draft orthosis in a short time, developed a rehabilitation program, and the Nikamed team produced a working prototype of the device.
— Thanks to the work of surgeons and comprehensive rehabilitation using a unique orthosis simulator, three months after the operation, the patient was able to hold objects, shake hands, and return to his previous job. A further gradual increase in the load on the hand is planned," Valentin Sharobaro, director of the Sechenov University Plastic Surgery Clinic, told Izvestia.
The design is fixed relative to the forearm and integrated into the aluminum stiffener of the orthosis. One of the key tasks of the developers was to provide the ability to put on and take off the device independently with one healthy hand. To do this, they used elastic Velcro fasteners adapted to this method of fixation. In addition, to eliminate excessive pressure on soft tissues, the orthosis was equipped with special removable softening inserts, the scientists said.
"The device can also be used in various medical organizations after injuries and operations on tendons, joints and muscles," said Evgeny Achkasov, director of the Sechenov University Rehabilitation Clinic.
The hand allotransplantation program, the transplantation of donor hands to patients who have lost limbs, began to be implemented at the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Medicine in 2025. The first patient was a man who lost his right hand and part of his forearm as a result of a severe injury. After surgical treatment of wounds and several reconstructive operations, he used a custom-made bionic prosthesis, but abandoned it due to limited functionality. During the allotransplantation, which lasted more than nine hours, surgeons sequentially connected the arteries, veins and nerve trunks end-to-end. In February 2026, the specialists performed another operation — to transplant both hands to another patient. It lasted about 12 hours.
Launch of individual production of exercise orthoses
After hand replantation or complex osteosynthesis of the forearm, the patient is between two states for a long time — immobilization of the fracture zone and early development of finger joints, which is critically important for restoring neuromuscular conduction and preventing contractures, Marina Chumakova, a leading market expert at NTI Helsnet, told Izvestia.
— Usually these tasks are solved in stages: first, a fixation orthosis is used, then a separate simulator or apparatus for continuous passive joint development. As a result, the patient has to constantly remove one device and put on another. Combining the fixation and training functions in one product is a logical and clinically sound decision, especially given the sophisticated engineering," she said.
Orthosis simulators, that is, active robotic and hybrid rehabilitation systems for recovery, are modern medical devices that combine the functions of external fixation and active mechanical muscle training, Alexander Karasev, doctor, head of the medical rehabilitation center, market expert at NTI Neuronet, told Izvestia.
"The modern understanding of the mechanisms of neuroplasticity creates prerequisites for the development of an integrated approach — limiting the area of injury or intervention while redistributing the load to all neighboring departments and the entire body," the expert said.
The developers plan to manufacture such orthoses according to individual patient parameters and obtain a patent for the invention, Adam Sultan-Greevich Kotiev, Deputy Chief Physician for Medical Commerce at Nikamed, told Izvestia. At the same time, he stressed, it is impossible to organize mass production of such products, since each orthosis must be designed taking into account the anatomical features and clinical needs of a particular patient.
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