What is a splint?
Orthopedic devices used to immobilize a fractured, injured area of the body, or to maintain any part of the body in a fixed position.
Orthosis VS Prosthesis
Orthosis:
- supports the body part for the purpose of stabilization or movement reminder
Prosthesis:
- substitutes the anatomically missing component.
OT and Splinting are mostly what type of approach?
Mostly biomechanical approach with emphasis on meaningful activities and performance of desired activities as the primary goal of therapy.
What is tendonitis?
inflammation of the tendons
What is a laceration?
Cut
What is the difference between a splint and a cast?
- Can remove splint unlike cast which you cannot remove
- Splint can be remolded and readjusted depending on the swelling (if sweeling goes down there may be too much room inside the cast)
What are some goals of splinting?
- Prevent or correct deformity
- Decrease pain
- Immobilize or stabilize unstable joint or tendon (e.g. due to a fracture)
- Protect vulnerable or healing structures (e.g. bone, joint, tendon, nerve)
- Prevent contractures
- Compensate or increase a movement
What are some associated risks with splinting?
- If used excessively: weak muscles, chronic pain, joint stiffness
- If not properly fitted: skin irritation, discomfort
What are the stages of splint fabrication?
1) Initial assessment : OT
2) Design phase : OT
3) Fabrication of splint: OT, with OTA support as required
4) Training in use of splint: OT-OTA
5) Follow-up: OT-OTA
What is the purpose of Wrist Immobilization Splints?
1) Decrease wrist pain or inflammation
2) Prevent wrist deformity
3) Minimize pressure or tension on involved structures (e.g. Carpal Tunnel)
4) Enhance digital function
When is one most likely to wear a hand immobilization splint?
Used when sleeping / at night during period of rest
Resting Splint Characteristics ***
1) Approximately 20-30 degrees of wrist extension
2) 45 degrees of thumb palmar abduction
3) 35-45 degrees of MCP flexion
4) Slight flexion of all PIP and DIP joints
What is the purpose of the Resting Hand Splint
- Immobilize
- Position in functional alignment (safe and functional position)
- Slow/stop further deformity
What is the purpose of the Thumb Immobilization Splints?
- Also commonly called thumb spica splint
- May be forearm based of hand based
- Example of condition: De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
What is a dynamic splint?
- known as mobilization splints
- Have moveable parts
- Designed to apply force across joints (Provide a low load, prolonged stretch)
- Forces use: constant or adjustable tension or combination of both
- Generally worn at rest or when sleeping
What are some splinting material characteristics
- Take form with gravity
- Easy to mold
- Some are more resitant to stretching, some less
- Memory: can be re-moudled without losing its force and function
- Adheres to itself
