Senior Occupational Therapist Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Thailand
Objectives: To present new pattern of thumb spica that both save time and cost effectiveness.
Design: Materials
4” x 5” thermoplastic 1/12” or 1/8” thickness
Velcro
Method
After measuring rectangle piece, mark the dot at the middle of wide side and measure length from MCP to IP joint then draw straight line from the dot to opposite side.
Cut along the line divided the rectangle into two parts except part of thumb area.
Soften thermoplastic and mold around thumb first. Place V- shape at 1st web space, position thumb in palmar abduction and opposition. Upper part of rectangle cover dorsal of hand, the other part support arch of hand.
For small hand, thumb part can be attached together to be a thumb loop but for big hand, these two parts might not be able to be attached. We can attach them by Velcro.
Cut the excessive part at ulnar side both dorsal and volar hand parts.
Finish by Velcro ulnar side both dorsal and volar parts.
Results: We have tried this new thumb spica pattern for many cases and found out that it was very easy to mold and set position, also needed not much skill to handling splint material too.
Conclusions: New pattern of thumb spica was designed for helping therapist to spend time effectively while making splint especially drawing a pattern and setting position.
