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A simple splinting method for correction of supple congenital clasped thumbs in infants
1Department of Surgery, the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Insights
A new splint effectively treats congenital clasped thumb in infants. This simple device aids thumb positioning, showing excellent functional results in most cases.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Hand Surgery
Background:
- Congenital clasped thumb is a condition requiring effective treatment.
- Existing splinting methods may have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel splint for correcting congenital clasped thumb.
- To assess the splint's ease of use and functional outcomes in infants.
Main Methods:
- A short opponens splint design was utilized.
- The splint maintains thumb abduction and extension without restricting wrist mobility.
- The device was applied to 11 infants (17 thumbs) with supple-type congenital clasped thumb.
Main Results:
- The splint demonstrated ease of application and adjustability.
- Functional results were graded using the Weckesser et al. (1968) system.
- Excellent outcomes were achieved in 15 out of 17 treated thumbs.
- Good outcomes were observed in the remaining 2 thumbs.
Conclusions:
- The designed splint is an effective and practical solution for congenital clasped thumb.
- The splint offers excellent functional improvement for infants with this condition.
Abstract:
A splint has been designed to correct the congenital clasped thumb. It is like a short opponens splint that can keep the thumb in a position of abduction and extension without limiting wrist movement. The application of the splint was easy and adjustment for fit could be made at each visit if necessary. The device has been used in 11 infant patients (17 thumbs) with congenital clasped thumb of the supple type. The functional results were excellent in 15 of 17 thumbs, and the other two were good according to the grading system of Weckesser et al. (1968).
