Role of Splint in Patients with Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition Encountered in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Splinting wrist in patients with carpal Tunnel syndrome is good conservative management tool in patients specially who wake up at night.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the role of splint in patients with symptoms of carpal syndrome.

Methodology: This was a quasi-experimental study. This study was conducted in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation department at Dhaka medical college hospital during July 2006 t0 January 2007 time period. Patients were selected randomly from the outpatient department physical medicine and Rehabilitation of Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Patients who had symptoms consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome that was numbness, tingling and burning sensation in the hand, duration of symptoms more than two weeks or more than three times in last six months, who were residents of Dhaka city and who were able to follow up regularly were included as study population. Patients were enrolled randomly into splinted and non-splinted group by odd and even number. Splinted group were treated by splint, drugs, ergomic training and exercise. Non-splinted group were treated by same drugs, ergonomic training and exercise only. The splint was a tailor made volar static wrist splint prepared by same orthoptist for every patient with splint. Outcomes were measured by Visual Analogue scale (VAS) and Levine Symptom Severity Scale (LSSS) at second fourth and six weeks follow up visits. The data were collected into splinted and non-splinted groups.

Result: There were 51 hands in 34 patients enrolled for the study. Among them 26 were in the splinted group and 23 were in the non-splinted group.

Conclusion: In this study splinted group showed significant improvement.

Journal of Science Foundation, July 2017;15(2):48-51