Evaluation of early dynamic splinting versus static splinting for patients with transposition of the extensor carpi radialis longus to the extensor pollicis longus.
We present a group of 20 patients who underwent transposition of the extensor carpi radialis longus to the extensor pollicis longus between April 2003 and September 2007. The group was divided into ten patients with an early dynamic splint and ten patients with a static plaster cast following the standard rehabilitation protocols. We compared these two rehabilitation protocols. The post-rehabilitation total range of motion was 87.5 degrees in the dynamic group and 58.75 degrees in the patients treated by the static protocol. The total time of rehabilitation was 10.2 weeks in the dynamic and 14.2 weeks in the static group. The overall mean follow-up was 12.2 weeks. We conclude that early dynamic splinting brings shorter recovery time, shorter time off work and significantly better movement of the thumb.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Czech Republic. justan@operativa.cz
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Justan
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Bistoni
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Dvorak
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Hyza
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Stupka
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Vesely
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013165:Splints; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D013709:Tendon Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D013933:Thumb / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult