What types of conditions or injuries benefit from having a custom-made splint?
Any injuries that involve the elbow or wrist, such as carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel (typically post-operative they don’t need them because they want them moving for nerve compression), elbow fractures, hand fractures, metacarpal fractures, P1-P2-P3, any and all tendon & artery repairs need one. Nerve repairs also need one.
There is also specific positioning that has to be adjusted over time to manage the protocol directly.
What are P1, P2, and P3? P1 is the proximal phalange (lower third of a finger), P2 is the middle, and P3 is the distal phalange (the end of the finger).
What makes custom-made splints better than the standard splints that are sold in convenience and big box stores?
Most importantly, they’re individualized. We like to say that over-the-counter splints are really one-size-fits-none — there’s a small, medium, and large. The custom splint will be individualized for the left or right hand, where it fits that person specifically, and it won’t fit one person to the next. They’re also individualized in care based on protocol and what that patient needs.
For example, if we’re making one for a CMC (carpometacarpal) joint, some people have very mobile CMCs where we can place the joint in the correct position, while others require gradual adjustment to reach a more functional position. So they can be individualized in that way as well.
They are carefully constructed to fit the protocol and/or the person. We put a lot of effort into padding bony prominences, protecting vulnerable tissue, and managing incisions and wounds. In contrast, over-the-counter splints are fixed in design — the metal is where it is, with only slight adjustability, if any.
Also, they are more effective. Research shows that because they are fit and molded specifically for the individual and are actively monitored, they provide better outcomes. Monitoring and modifying the splints throughout treatment is a big part of what we do — we make small changes and adjustments as needed.