Development of a tetraplegic hand assessment and splinting protocol

The occupational therapists at the National Spinal Injuries Centre initiated a survey of national and international spinal units in order to investigate which components of hand assessment and which hand splints were most commonly used on patients who have had a spinal cord injury. One hundred and seven questionnaires were sent, but of the 49 returned, only 44 of the assessment questionnaires and 46 of the splinting questionnaires were fully completed and could be used for this study. The results from this survey, the information gathered from the literature and the experiences of the occupational therapists, were used to develop a tetraplegic hand assessment and splinting protocol. This protocol has helped the occupational therapists to be more thorough in their hand assessments, and more discerning with the splints that they make or supply for patients. The low response would suggest that this study should be viewed as a pilot one and that there is need for more valid and reliable research.