The spelling of "Allen treatment" may seem simple, but it can be tricky for non-native English speakers. The word "Allen" is pronounced as /ælən/ in phonetic transcription, with the stress placed on the first syllable. The word "treatment" is pronounced as /ˈtriːtmənt/, with the stress placed on the second syllable. Therefore, the correct spelling of this term is "Allen treatment," with two L's and two T's. This treatment is a hands-on technique used by physical therapists to decrease pain and stiffness in the body.
The term "Allen treatment" refers to a medical procedure that is performed to assess the functionality of the hand's arteries before certain invasive procedures, such as bypass surgery or angioplasty, are undertaken. It is named after Dr. Edgar Allen, the surgeon who developed this test in the early 1950s.
During an Allen treatment, the patient's hand is immobilized and elevated while a healthcare professional applies pressure to both the radial and ulnar arteries, which supply blood to the hand. This process restricts the blood flow to the hand from these arteries, causing the hand to blanch or turn pale. Once the hand has turned pale, one artery is released while pressure on the other is continued.
By observing how quickly the hand regains its color after one artery is released, medical professionals can determine the patency or openness of these arteries and the adequacy of the collateral circulation in the hand. If the hand regains its color rapidly, it indicates good collateral circulation and suggests a decreased risk of ischemia.
The Allen treatment is an important diagnostic tool because it helps to evaluate the hand's arterial blood flow, aiding surgeons in identifying the health of the arteries and determining appropriate treatment strategies for patients with arterial disease. It ensures that the blood supply to the hand will remain intact during surgical procedures, minimizing the risk of complications such as tissue damage or amputation.
The so-called starvation treatment of diabetes by means of certain days of absolute fasting followed by a spare diet with a limited amount of carbohydrate.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.