title: Comparison of static wrist splint with static wrist and metacarpophalangeal splint in carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The position of metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints may be an important factor affecting the efficacy of splinting in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of a neutral volar static wrist splint with a neutral volar static wrist and MCP splint in patients with CTS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four hands were included into the study. A neutral volar static wrist splint was given to the symptomatic hands of the patients in group 1 while a neutral volar static wrist and MCP splint was given to the symptomatic hands of the patients in group 2. Evaluation parameters were Visual Analog Scale for pain severity (VASp), grip strength, pinch strength, electrophysiologic tests and CTS Questionnaire (CTSQ) at baseline and four weeks later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline there was no difference between groups. The intergroup comparison of the improvement showed significant differences in VASp at rest, grip strength, pinch strength and CTSQ functional capacity scores between groups in favor of wrist MCP splint. Although there were significant improvements with regard to sensory amplitude and motor latency in both groups after therapy, the differences between groups were not at the level of significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The position of MCP joints seems to be an important factor for the treatment of CTS and should be considered while prescribing a splint to the patients with CTS.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Ministry of Health, Gebze Fatih State Hospital, Izmit, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gul Tugba
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Bulut
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Ministry of Health, Istanbul Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nil Sayiner
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Caglar
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Ministry of Health, Istanbul Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aytekin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Nightingale Hospital, Istanbul Bilim University Florence, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ozgonenel
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Ministry of Health, Istanbul Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sule
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tutun
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saliha Eroglu
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Demir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013165:Splints; D014953:Wrist
keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; electrophysiological tests; metacarpophalangeal joint; splint; wrist joint