Use of Thumb Splint in Children with Hemiplegia

Clinical Rehabilitation published research on the functional abilities of 7 children (ages 2-7) with unilateral cerebral palsy who used a neoprene thumb opponens splint (McKie splint). The children were followed for 4 months – about one month baseline, 2 months intervention and one month follow up. Goal attainment scaling and visual analog scales were used to assess function. The results indicated that four children increased their scores following use of the splint. Only two children benefited from the splint when it was worn. All the children tolerated the splint well.

Reference: Ten Berge SR, Boonstra AM, Dijkstra PU, Hadders-Algra M, Haga N, Maathuis CG. A systematic evaluation of the effect of thumb opponens splints on hand function in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Clin Rehabil. 2011 Dec 1. [Epub ahead of print]