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Frequently used zone 2 flexor tendon repair splints are reviewed and classified according to the Amercian Society of Hand Therapists' Splint Classification System. These splints both restrict and mobilise digital motion and fall into two main groups: (1) splints that incorporate the wrist and digital joints as primary joints to allow predetermined increments of early passive or active motion at both the wrist and digital joints; and (2) splints that include the wrist as a secondary joint and the digital joints as primary joints, allowing early passive or active motion at digital joints but not at the wrist.

Occupational therapists in Hong Kong have been very active in the management of patients with traumatic hand injuries due to industrial accidents. Splints have been prescribed as an adjunct to the exercise programme in rehabilitation. Other than the conventional thermoplastic splinting materials, metal hinges, coils and plastic strapping were used in splinting. The ultimate goal is to maximise the hand functions such that these workers could resume their work roles.

The mallet finger is a common hand injury in sports with ball use. Here, we present the case of a goalkeeper with simultaneous bilateral mallet fingers in the third and fourth ray, successfully treated with splinting. Origin and treatment options are discussed.

Background: Although surgery is an effective treatment for severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), it is accompanied by many complications; furthermore, there are several patients with severe CTS who reject surgical management. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of long-term splinting in severe CTS. Methods and Materials: CTS Assessment Questionnaire (Bostone) was filled for 140 patients with severe CTS, who did not agree to go under surgery. Patients were divided into two groups randomly. One group received medical and physical therapy and short-term (six weeks) wrist splint. The other group received the same treatments but long-term (six months) splinting. Both groups went under the evaluation of symptoms and function with Bostone questionnaire and electrophysiological study six weeks, and six months later. Results: There was no significant difference between two groups in any of the measured or registered parameters at the beginning of the study and six weeks later except for compound motor action potential amplitude. But, both the Boston questionnaire scores (symptom severity and functional capacity) and nerve conduction study results were significantly different between the two groups at six months. Conclusion: Regarding the potential efficacy of long-term night-time splinting for symptom and functional improvement of severe CTS, we recommend its use in severe CTS patients who reject surgery.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between anthropometric hand/wrist measurements and outcomes following static wrist splintage in patients with mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Methods: Thirty nine patients with mild-to-moderate CTS were enrolled in this study. Anthropometric measurements of hand and wrist including wrist width, wrist depth, palm length, hand length, wrist ratio (wrist depth/wrist width) and wrist/palm ratio (wrist depth/palm length) were recorded as well as body mass index and ultrasonographic cross sectional area of median nerve. Patients were treated with static wrist splints and evaluated at 2^nd, 4^th and 12^th weeks with Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, median nerve nerve conduction studies, Visual Analog Scale for pain and Likert Scale for numbness.

Results: Following treatment with a static wrist splint, the wrist ratio was correlated significantly with improvements in Boston Functional Status Scale at the second and forth weeks (r = −0.354, p = 0.027 and r = −0.320, p = 0.050 respectively) and Visual Analog Scale at the forth and 12^th weeks (r = −0.352, p = 0.030 and r = −0.360, p = 0.029 respectively).

Conclusions: Splinting provides symptomatic improvement in mild-to-moderate CTS and this study suggests that the wrist anthropometric measurements may influence treatment outcomes.