title: Maintaining the safe position in a palmar splint. The "double-T" plaster splint.
abstract: The injured and operated hand is routinely immobilized for a variable period of time in a palmar plaster splint. To minimize subsequent joint stiffness, the preferred position of immobilization of the hand is the "safe position". The true position of the hand in a splint was assessed on a lateral X-ray directly after application and just before removal 3 weeks later. It appears that in time the hand in a conventional palmar plaster splint loses its initial position because the bandage stretches. The "double-T" plaster splint maintains the safe position of the hand significantly better than the conventional palmar splint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Taams
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ash
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johannes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages; D002133:Calcium Sulfate; D003286:Contracture / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000628:therapy; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D013165:Splints; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D002133:Calcium Sulfate