Wheelchairs
This is an example of a custom made wheelchair of a Lesch-Nyhan patient.
A soft but sturdy head rest prevents injury to the head and neck and often reduces the urge to fling the head backward.
All sharp corners and objects within hand reach must be covered with soft padding, so the child cannot bang or scrape himself. All sharp corners and objects within reach of the feet must be similarly covered.The spokes of the wheels must be covered to prevent the child from inserting his hand when the chair is in motion.
These arm straps prevent flinging movements of the arms and other forms of self-injurious behavior. The shield next to it can be raised to prevent self-injury such as stretching the arms while being pushed through a doorway, or hitting walls or other objects.
Straps for the chest may be needed to prevent the child from flinging himself forward out of the wheelchair, or banging his head on things in front of him. Sometimes, arm straps or shields can be used to prevent flinging movements, or other self-injurious behavior such as biting fingers or poking in the eyes. When these straps are adjustable, they can allow a restricted but safe range of movement, preserving functional use of the hands. Straps for the legs might also be helpful to prevent self injury to the legs and feet.
Straps for the chest can prevent the patient from flinging or falling out of the wheelchair, or banging his head forward or backward.
An example of adjustable arm straps. The length of these straps can be individually adjusted, allowing a restricted but safe range of movement. In this way, functional use of the hand can be preserved, for example to use a cell phone or mp3-player.