Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation of Post Operative Hand Injury Cases using Modified Low Cost Splints and Home Based Exercises: A Rural Indian Experience

Abstract

Objective : Kleinert (active extension, passive flexion) is basic early motion program for rehabilitation of hand injuries. There have been significant innovations in therapy programme at different zones of tendon injuries in past. The aim of this study was to analyze the functional improvement after a postoperative regimen with use of modified splints and home base activities in combination with Occupational Therapy. Design : Twenty eight patients with different tendon injuries were retrospectively enrolled in this study from one and a half year of routinely collected data. Gross grip, fine grip and range of motion were measured using JAMAR, pinch O meter and finger goniometer respectively. Result : Statistically and clinically significant improvement was observed in muscle strength (gross and fine) and range of motion in these patients' hands after modified kleinert splint, custom made splint and home base exercise in all patients (p <0.001 ). Conclusion : The outcome of the current study i.e. making the patients functionally independent with the use of low cost modified splints and home based exercises, are at par with the other studies that have used standard splints. However postoperative occupational therapy programme is not much documented in literature, although realised and practiced at some places in the western world. This attempt is to produce some evidence of the utility of combination of simple techniques and devices to get optimum results in hand injury cases.