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Opposition splint for partial thumb amputation: a case study measuring disability before and after splint use
W S Dewey1, R L Richard, T L Hedman
1US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Army Burn Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-6315, USA. scott.dewey@amedd.army.mil
Study Design:
Case report.
Introduction:
A combined burn and a partial amputation can be extremely debilitating as the thumb constitutes 40% of the entire hand when evaluating functional impairment.
Purpose Of The Study:
Measure disability with and without opposition splint use after partial thumb amputation due to a burn.
Methods:
Impairment and disability measures were completed at discharge from the hospital and subsequently during outpatient follow-up visits while wearing and not wearing a thumb opposition splint at 3, 6, 8, and 15 months. Comparisons between disability and impairment scores were assessed over time.
Results:
The difference between DASH scores with and without using the splint were 25 at 3 months, 16 at 6 months, 10 at 8 months, and 12 at 15 months.
Conclusions:
Splint use in this case demonstrated clinically significant changes over time with minimal changes in impairment indicating enhanced function and improved patient perception of disability.
Level Of Evidence:
4.
