Splints are made to protect, support, and/or to encourage the recovery of motion.
Splints that we make in our clinic (called fabricated or custom splints or orthoses) come in three different varieties:
- Static splints – static splints are utilized for fingers, wrists, and at the elbow to protect the bones and tissue from excessive movement or stress. By support the damaged or diseased area it allows the delicate soft tissues better heal.
- Dynamic splints – dynamic splints are used to minimize scar tissue formation, stretch out scar tissue or adhesions and to optimize the healing process. These splints are often used with tendon reconstruction to allow the tendons to move properly while protecting them from excessive force which could damage a surgical repair.
- Static progressive splints – these splints incorporate inelastic components to apply torque to a joint to statically hold it in its end range position to increase motion. This increases the stretching force on a particular joint or joints and improves the passive motion of joint or joint complex.
When to Consider a Custom Splint
- Here are some of the benefits of a custom splint:
- They can easily be removed for showering, wound care, and therapeutic exercises
- They are easy to modify as healing and recovery of function improve
- Easy to adjust for comfort
- Can be made and modified for any joint position
- They can get wet and are easy to clean
Conditions that May Be Appropriate for Custom Or
Traumatic Conditions
- Crush Injuries
- Dislocations
- Fractures
- Mallet Finger
- Sprains and Strains
- POST SURGICAL CONDITIONS
Amputations
- Carpal Tunnel Release
- Dupuytren's Surgery
- Fracture Fixation
- Ganglionectomy
- Joint Replacements and Reconstructions
- Nerve Repairs
- Tendon Repairs
- Tenolysis
- Trigger Finger/Thumb Release
- Wrist Surgery
Repetitive Strain Injuries
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis
- Epicondylitis
- Tendonitis/Tenosynovitis
- Trigger Finger/Thumb