Splints and Orthotics Flashcards
What are 5 goals for using UE splints?
Immobilization
Protection/support
Correction or prevention of deformities
Substitute for weak or absent UE function
Serve as base attachment for ADL equipment
What is a wrist cock up splint? What position is the wrist held in with this type of splint?
An anterior or palmar splint that contains the forearm and metacarpals. May include phalanges as well if needed for positioning
Wrist position: neutral or 10-20 degrees of extension
List 5 conditions where a wrist cock up splint might be used.
Rheumatoid arthritis Fractures of carpal bones Colle's fracture Carpal tunnel syndrome Stroke with paralysis
What is a thumb spica splint? What position is the thumb positioned in with this type of splint?
A hand-based splint designed to immobilize the first CMC joint
Thumb position: Partial opposition and abduction with thumb IP joint left free for maximum function
List 4 conditions where a thumb spica splint might be used.
CMC arthritis
Scaphoid fracture
Scaphoid lunate instability
de Quervain’s tenosynovitis
What is a dorsal wrist splint? What does it allow for? What condition is it used for?
Frees the palm for feeling and grasping through use of grips that curve around over the second and fifth metacarpal heads
Allows for attachment of dorsal devices to form a dynamic device
Used for flexor tendon repairs
What position is the arm placed in when in an airplane splint?
90 degrees of abduction with elbow flexed to 90 degrees
Weight of arm is borne on a padded lateral trunk bar and iliac crest band. A strap hold the device across the trunk.
What is the purpose of an airplane splint?
Used to immobilize the shoulder following fracture or burn injury to prevent contracture of the axillary region
What is the purpose of a tenodesis splint?
Assists patients in use of wrist extensors to approximate the thumb and forefingers (grip) in the absence of active finger flexion
Facilitates tenodesis grasp in patients with quadriplegia
What splints are used to treat Mallet finger, Boutonniere’s deformity and swan neck deformity?
Mallet Finger: palmar DIP gutter splint to support distal phalange
Boutonniere’s deformity: palmar PIP gutter splint to support middle phalange
Swan neck deformity: ring splints of PIP joints to prevent PIP hyperextension
List 4 purposes of an orthotic device.
- Used to reduce functional loss due to weak, painful, diseased or deformed joint
- Supports, accommodates, or protects a joint or body segment
- Restricts or facilitates motion
- Corrects alignment
What principle forms the mechanical basis for orthotic correction?
Three point pressure principle
A single force is placed at the area of deformity or angulation; two additional counterforces act in the opposing direction
List 6 types of foot orthoses.
Heel wedge Heel lift Heel cushion Heel cup Metatarsal pad/bar Rocker bar
What is the purpose of a heel wedge? What conditions is it typically used for?
Can be applied to medial heel to prevent excessive hindfoot eversion or to lateral heel to prevent excessive hindfoot inversion
Used to treat pes planus or pes cavus
What is the purpose of a heel lift? List 3 conditions for which it may help alleviate.
Rigid insert that ads extra height to the heel of a shoe
Accommodates for leg length discrepancy, limitations in ankle dorsiflexion and to take pressure of the Achilles tendon for patients with Achilles tendonitis
What is the difference between a heel cushion and a heel cup? What conditions does it assist in alleviating?
Heel cushion: Soft pad placed on the heel of the inner sole to help cushion the heel to decrease pain and pressure in that area.
Heel cup: rigid insert that covers the plantar surface of the calcaneus and extends upwards on all three sides. Works to stabilize the calcaneus in a neutral position and provide greater shock absorption
Used to help treat patients with heel spurs and plantar fasciitis
What is the purpose of a metatarsal bar/pad? What does it allow for?
Flat piece of padding that is placed just posterior to the metatarsal heads either on the outer sole or the inner sole of the shoe and shifts pressure from the met heads to the shafts.
Allows for more push off in weak or inflexible feet