“Quality also means taking time for patients“

Certified orthotist Eiko Limmer works at the medical supply retailer Spiegel in Fulda (Germany). When he visits the neighboring hospital , he usually brings two things with him: Spinova Support Plus and time to spend with patients who have had back surgery. The former makes the latter possible.

Bauerfeind life: How does Spinova Support Plus help you in the hospital?
Eiko Limmer: Well , primarily it helps patients, of course. But until it gets to that point , it helps me. The orthosis is easy to transport and demonstrate, and it can be put on quickly. This saves time, which I can use to focus on conversations with patients. Forgetting the quality that Bauerfeind products offer for the moment: quality also means taking time for patients.

“We like the orthosis because it can be used individually and flexibly in various situations.”Eiko Limmer

How does a typical treatment work?
Eiko Limmer: Along with our main office and our outlets in town, we also have a shop inside Fulda Hospital. This shop has all the torso orthotics products we need, and in all sizes, in stock. If we need to use Spinova Support Plus for a treatment , I do the patient fittings together with the doctor. This is usually done on the third day after surgery, at which time the patient is generally still bedridden. We wait longer than that in the case of complex intervention procedures, for example those involving stiff vertebrae combined with osteoporosis. First I put on the orthosis to show the patient how it’s done, then I put it on the patient. It takes me an average of 30-40 minutes to do this. Depending on the indication, the patient might wear the orthosis for around five to six weeks. The back pad can be removed in about ten days, depending on what the attending physician says. The main indications for use of the orthosis in the hospital are spondylodeses and herniated disks.

Why do you use Spinova Support Plus in particular?
Eiko Limmer: Stabilization of the lower back is the decisive aspect for us. Patients need support immediately after an operation. We like the orthosis because it can be used individually and flexibly in various situations. In addition, after patients go home, they are able to use it on their own. Doctors also know that surgery results will be safeguarded and that the patient is in good hands. The ability to gradually remove parts of Spinova Support Plus also offers a major benefit. It increases mobility, and patient motivation, step by step.

How do you explain the benefits to patients?
Eiko Limmer: We tell them that the orthosis will alleviate pain, which will quickly lend them mobility, and that this in turn supports the healing process. Patients are just as interested in safeguarding the results of surgery as doctors are. They will try to avoid a repeat operation at all costs.

Do patients understand the benefits the orthosis offers?
Eiko Limmer: They very quickly realize that mobility would not be possible without Spinova Support Plus, even though they’re not that extensively packed in circularly. The large stitches in the knitted fabric make the orthosis light and airy. Most patients like that a lot , especially in the summer, of course. They also appreciate practical aspects, such as the fact that the product can be machine-washed. Other products have to be hand-washed, which requires a lot of effort.

“Spinova Support Plus helps patients by relieving pain. It lends patients mobility more quickly, which in turn supports the healing process.”Eiko Limmer

What did you think when you saw Spinova Support Plus for the first time?
Eiko Limmer: Oh, I thought it was complicated, with all of its different components. That quickly proved to be a misconception, however. Everything is in its place – for the patient as well. You can’t go wrong when you put it on – with all the markings on the top and bottom and the inside and outside. The design itself ensures it’s easy to use. Patients notice immediately if something is on the wrong way.

What do you think is the most important benefit offered by the orthosis?
Eiko Limmer: You’ll be surprised by this, but the answer is time, by which I mean time for me, but more importantly for patients and doctors. Doctors don’t want to wait long to order what may be an expensive corset , but before they order it , they want to be able to give patients the sense of security they need after surgery. They want to quickly be able to use a proven and individually adjustable product that supports the lumbar spine and relieves the ventral portions of the vertebral bodies.

Images: Rainer Kraus