Treatment of Grade III Thumb Metacarpophalangeal Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries with Early Controlled Motion Using a Hinged Splint
Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries of the thumb metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint are some of the more common injuries to the thumb and are usually treated with immobilization. There are benefits, however, to early active motion for healing ligaments. Therefore, these authors incorporated some of the concepts related to early controlled motion and its role in healing, and created a hinged thumb MCP radial and ulnar deviation restriction splint for use with Grade III UCL injuries.—Victoria Priganc, PhD, OTR, CHT, CLT, Practice Forum Editor
Lutheran Hospital, A Cleveland Clinic Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio
Division of Occupational Therapy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Cleveland Orthopedic and Spine Hospital at Lutheran, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
Correspondence and reprint requests to Ernest J. Michaud, OTR/L, CHT, Department of Rehabilitation - Out Patient Lutheran Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic Hospital, 1730 West 25th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113.
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