The Origin of Pediatric Hand Molds and Proof of Concept

The art of casting and creating molds of the hands for teaching anatomy and strategic planning was introduced by Dr. Adrian Flatt and later modified by Dr. Joseph Upton. This article reports on the material and methods of creating low cost and easy to perform 3-dimensional molds that have proven educational for patients, families, residents, and pivotal for surgical planning.

Using materials readily available in pediatric operating rooms, the details of the simple, efficient, and cost-effective method of creating hand molds are outlined. Photographs of a small sample size of the mold collection as well as congenital hand deformities are included in this article.

Over 40 years of molding hands for surgical planning as well as patient and resident education is highlighted. There is also profound public education using these molds as there has been a display of the collection at the Boston Museum of Science for more than 40 years.

This article provides proof of concept that the use of molds in pediatric hand surgery is low cost, easy to perform, and useful for surgical planning as well as family and resident education.