A question for those of you with splints:

Does your splint do anything to maintain or increase the angle between the thumb and forefinger. I have a cord in the thumb web that gets pulled when I stretch to reach my octaves on the piano. It generally gets inflamed after I've played for awhile. I'm thinking it may need NA in the future - maybe before my second course of radiation?

Sharon

Hi I've just had PNF or NA by Dr Meinel in Wurtzburg Germany. Dr Meinel was one of the first medicos in Germany to use PNF having learned the technique in Paris. (The French have used PNF for 50 odd years. ) Dr Meinel is also on the advisory board of the International Dupuytren Society. He made a splint using an aluminiun backing plate . He applied a 2 pack material for orthosis called ERKOTON 30 Product 413835.( I did a web search and this product is used by podotrists .) Having applied the product he then pressed my hand onto the product . After 5 minutes the splint was removed leaving a perfect form of my hand . Using velco fixture similiar to that used on a nordic ski stock and some double side tape the aluminium plate was fixed. Simple to use. Very comfortable and allows the fingers to flex. There was also a small velco strip running across the back of the joints adjacent to the hand . As far back as 1979 Dr Meinel has advocated the use of a night splint.
The night splint should not excert pressure to straighten the fingers . It is only to hold the fingers in a passive position to prevent the contracture. He along with Dr Eaton believe that after 14 days of PNF no pressure should be exerted to straighten the finger . I was given a Scar Soft Gel which contains a silicone and extracts of plants from Asia. I apply this sparingly in the morning on the area . Some Scar Soft Gels contain Emu oils which the aboriginals of Australia have used for centuries to heal wounds. Regards.

Edited 06/06/12 19:23

One more point - the splint is not just on the finger - it extends down to my palm to better support the finger portion. I 'll try to get someone to take photos of it on that I can post for you.

Maddie

I think the kind of splint one needs depends upon where the contracture. My fingers have no contacture except where it radiates from the palm and affects the MCP joint. My splint addresses the contracture from the thumb across the palm and the little finger. It's hard to describe but i'll get these pictures up. A picture is worth 1000 words or more.

Tusk:

---

Maddie, I would like to see your splint so if you could post a photo that would be great!