Splints Flashcards
What is an opponens splint?
May be short or long
-Supports the thumb in a position of abduction and opposition
-Used during functional activities
What is a cock up splint?
This splint supports the user’s wrist in 10° to 20° of extension to prevent contracture, but allows digits to function, such as in a case involving a flaccid wrist
What type of split would be crafted for a brachial plexus injury?
A flail arm splint
What type of split would be crafted for a median nerve injury?
An opponens splint or C-Bar splint
What type of split would be crafted for an ulnar nerve injury?
A dynamic/static splint to position MPs in flexion
What type of split would be crafted for a combined median/ulnar nerve injury?
A figure of eight splint or dynamic MCP flexion splint
What type of splint would be crafted for someone with a C6-C7 spinal cord injury?
A tenodesis splint
What type of split would be crafted for someone with the skiers thumb injury?
A hand-based thumb splint
What type of split would be crafted for someone with CMC arthritis?
A hand-based thumb splin
What type of split would be crafted for someone with a flexor tendon injury?
Kleinert or Duran dorsal protection splint
What type of splint would be crafted for someone with swan neck?
Silver rings or buttonhole splint
What are the general considerations of splinting?
Comfort
- Function
- Cosmesis
- Patient acceptance and compliance - Patient education
- Tratment plan integration
What are the objectives of static splinting?
The main purporse of splinting is to help the individual perfom ADLs through:
- positioning and maintaining alignment
- protecting or supporting or immobilizing
- inhibiting tone by positioning the extremity in a reflex inhibiting position
What are supportive splints?
Supportive splints are static splints used to: - relieve pain
- position and maintain join alignment
- prevent adaptive shortening of soft tissues
What are the objectives of dynamics splints?
prevent progressive deforming changes as a result of muscle imbalance
- substitute for or assist lost or weakened muscles - increase ROM
- minimize formation of adhesions
What are static progressive splints?
Static progressive splints apply low-load prolonged stress at the end range to soft tissue through static positioning to increase ROM and correct contractures
What are seral static splints?
Serial static splints hold the tissue in end range until it adaps to its new length to increase ROM and maintain improvement obtained
What is the functional position of the hand?
Wrist: 30 degrees in extension -Phalanges: Slight flexion -Thumb: Opposed to index finger
What is intrinsic plus grasp?
Characterized by:
-All the MPs in flexion
-DIPs and PIPs, full extension
-Thumb in opposition to MF & RF (
What splint is used to subtitute for loss of intrinsic plus grasp?
Use figure eight or dynamic flexion splint -Loss of intrinsic plus is associated with median and ulnar nerve dysfunction
When is the intrinsic plus splinting position used?
For individuals with burns and traumatic hand injuries
What are the common splinting precautions?
Preexisting skin problems -
Bony prominences -
Friction -
Pressure spots
What splint is used for median nerve compression (CTS)?
Dorsal, volar, or ulnar gutter splint
What splint is used for a carpal tunnel release surgery?
Volar splint with the wrist in a neutral, or slightly extended wrist position
What immobilizing splint is used for radial nerve palsy?
What immobilizing splint is used for tendinitis/tenosynovitis?
Volar or dorsal, 20-30 degrees of wrist extension
What immobilizing splint is used for rheumatoid arthritis
Volar in extension up to 30 degrees, based on the person’s comfort level
-Ulnar drift close to neutral during early stages
What immobilizing splint is used for wrist fracture?
Volar, dorsal, or circumferential. -Maximum passive extension up to 30 degrees.
What immobilizing splint is used for reflex sympathetic dystrophy (CRPS)?
Volar in extension, as tolerated -Circumferential wrist might be used to avoid edema
What is a resting hand splint used for?
RA, Burns, Dupuyten’s, and RSD -Supports the hand and wrist joint so that they heal without contracting and so that a deformity does not develop
When are thumb immobilization splints used?
Tenosynovitis -Rheumatoid arthritis -Osteoarthritis -Traumatic injuries of the thumb
When is a thumb spica used?
Immobilizes the thumb while allowing other digits freedom to move
-A long thumb spica splint also immobilizes the wrist
-Immobilizes 1st CMC and sometimes 1st MP and IP
-Hand based (short opponens splint)
What type of split would be crafted for someone with a Boutenniere deformity?
dynamic PIP extension splints
What type of split would be crafted for someone with arthritis?
A functional splint or safe splints, depending on stage
What type of split would be crafted for someone with flaccidity?
A resting splint
What type of split would be crafted for someone with spasticity?
A spasticity splint or a cone splint
What is the position of deformity?
Wrist flexion -MCP hyperextension -IP joints flexed -Thumbs adducted
What is the functional position of the hand?
Wrist 20 to 30° of extension -MCPs 45° flexion
-IPs 20 to 30° of flexion -Thumb in palmar abduction
What is a blocking splint used for?
Used to isolate tendon and joint range of motion
What splint is used for a 5-year old child with spastic quad CP how shows bilateral thum-in-palm deformities?
A neoprene hand-based splint w/thumbs in opposition
