Wheelchairs

A soft but sturdy head rest prevents injury to the head and neck and often reduces the urge to fling the head backward.A soft but sturdy head rest prevents injury to the head and neck and often reduces the urge to fling the head backward.
Most children with Lesch-Nyhan disease need a wheelchair to get around. This wheelchair must be specially designed for safety. Images in this section show an example of a wheelchair expecially designed for Lesch-Nyhan patients.

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.

The head rest must be high enough to prevent the child from flinging his head backward and injuring his neck. Side supports for the head may also be required, to prevent him from flinging his head towards the sides.

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.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.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.