What is a CTO?

A Cervical-Thoracic Orthosis, or CTO, is a support for your neck and upper spine. It can help to repair an injury to your spine by limiting the movement in your neck and upper back. The brace can help:

  • With the healing process
  • Reduce pain or discomfort
  • Prevent further damage
  • To act as a reminder to avoid/limit certain movements

How long do I wear it for?

Your doctor or consultant will tell you how long you need to wear the brace for.

The brace might need to be worn for a period of 6 to 12 weeks. The amount of time that you need to wear the brace will depend on your diagnosis and the severity of your injury.

Can there be complications?

Your brace will not completely immobilise the movement in your spine. Further and/or additional treatment might be required. Please seek advice from your consultant/doctor.

NOTE: If you have any questions with regards to your diagnosis, wear time or pain you will need to contact your relevant consultant/doctor.

Your checklist:

  • Keep your collar properly tightened
  • Remove it only with the help of a second person
  • Remove it only to wash your face and neck
  • Avoid strenuous activities

​​​​​Sleeping

Your doctor might give you specific instructions about wearing your brace for sleeping. Please speak to your doctor about when to wear your brace. If your brace is required, regular checks and repositioning may need to be carried out to reduce the risk of pressure sores.

Eating and Drinking

We advise you to place a napkin under your chin to prevent the pads getting food or drink on them. 

Driving

Discuss with your Consultant/Doctor with regards to when you can resume driving.

Wear and care

Your skin must be kept clean and dry. There is a risk of skin irritation and rubbing when wearing a close fitting device to your body. Please check your skin after every use of the brace. The neck collar comes with padding sections to try and minimise any rubbing/skin breakage risks.

If red marks on your skin do not fade after 30 minutes or your skin breaks down and causes a wound, please contact the Orthotics department for an appointment. Please contact your GP if you have any open wounds and dress them appropriately.

Pad cleaning

We advise to hand wash the neck collar pads with soap and water. Rinse out allpad cleaning.png soap and gently squeeze out any excess water. Allow to air dry (6 to 8 hours). Do not place the pads in a washer or dryer.

 

 

 

 

Putting your CTO on 

We advise putting the brace on either sitting or standing in front of a mirror.

  1. Fasten one of the straps on one side of the neck collar. Do this for the chest piece also. Only fasten one side.
  2. Place the front panel of the neck brace under your chin. Your chin should rest in line of the end of the brace. Place the chest piece in the middle of your body.
  3. Bring the back panel of the neck collar and the chest piece around your back.
  4. Fasten the other strap to the front panel of the neck brace.
  5. Fasten the clip on the chest piece.
  6. Check that the straps are straight. These should not be angled in a different position.
  7. Tighten the chest piece straps to secure them in place.

When the brace is on you will still be able to open your mouth but will be limited. This is because the brace makes contact with your chin.

CTO fastening.png​​​​​​​

Taking your CTO off

NOTE: You should only remove your brace to wash your face and neck and when advised to by your doctor.

We advise you to take the collar off either sitting or standing in front of a mirror. You may wish to get someone to help you.

  1. Release the straps and the clip on the chest piece on one side of the brace.
  2. Pull the front panel of the collar away from the chin.
  3. Keep your neck and chin still while the collar is off.

Washing your face and neck:

When you take your collar off to wash your face and neck, keep the movements of your neck to a minimum.

  1. Before taking off your collar, gather the supplies you will need: soap, wash cloth, towel, and pads.
  2. Remove the collar following the instructions above.
  3. Use a face cloth to clean your face and neck.
  4. Dry your skin well before putting the brace back on.
  5. Remove the dirty pads and replace with new pads.
  6. Re-apply the neck collar. ​​​​​​​​​​
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