Opposition splint for partial thumb amputation: a case study measuring disability before and after splint use.
METHODS
Case report.


BACKGROUND
A combined burn and a partial amputation can be extremely debilitating as the thumb constitutes 40% of the entire hand when evaluating functional impairment.


OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
4.
Dewey
W S
WS
US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Army Burn Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-6315, USA. scott.dewey@amedd.army.mil
Richard
R L
RL
Hedman
T L
TL
Chapman
T T
TT
Quick
C D
CD
Renz
E M
EM
Blackbourne
L H
LH
Wolf
S E
SE
Holcomb
J B
JB
D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013165:Splints; D013933:Thumb / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*