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Dynamic splint

A loss of joint flexibility is experienced by individuals recovering from neuromuscular diseases, traumatic injuries such as bone fractures, tendon and ligament tears, joint replacements and burns. In order to regain joint flexibility, it is necessary to flex or extend the joint in a repeated, controlled and quantifiable manner. In recent years, dramatic advances have been made in the development of lightweight, compact mechanisms for correcting common and debilitating injuries to body joints such as fingers, wrists, knees, elbows and the like. The dynamic splint may be applicable to various hinged joints such as the finger, elbow, wrist, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle and toe joints. To treat flexion and extension contractures, spring-biased splint units have been developed to provide a force across a body joint. These splint devices provide tension which operates in opposition to a flexion or extension contracture and thereby not only provide support in instances where muscular weakness exists, but also enhance rehabilitation. The human hand consists of a large number of bones and, obviously, a large number of joints joining these bones. It is essential that the hand is able to operate properly in order to function in all its intricate capacities. A dynamic wrist-hand-finger orthosis or splint is generally used for the positioning of an impaired, injured, or disabled wrist, hand, and fingers. Dynamic hand splints are used to provide dynamic forces to the digits of a hand. These splints are particularly useful for extension of the proximal interphalangeal joints. Dynamic hand splints are often used after implant resection arthroplasty of the metacarpophalangeal joints of a hand。 These type of splints are used for a number of purposes including: promotion of tissue synthesis, promotion of tendon gliding, assistance of the lymphatic pump, prevention and correction of deformity, increasing the range of motion, assistance to neurologic function, prevention of softer tissue adhesion, and protection for healing tissues. Splints come in a variety of designs: static, static progressive, and dynamic that can be low profile or high profile.

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