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14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT)

17.06. - 21.06.2019, Berlin

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An Innovative device to increase the thumb web after the median nerve palsy at wrist joint: a case study

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  • presenting/speaker Pankaj Gupta - The Leprosy Mission Community Hospital, Delhi, India
  • Pankaj Gupta - The Leprosy Mission Community Hospital, Delhi, India

International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand. International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy. 14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT). Berlin, 17.-21.06.2019. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2020. DocIFSHT19-1314

doi: 10.3205/19ifssh1537, urn:nbn:de:0183-19ifssh15377

Published: February 6, 2020

© 2020 Gupta et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Outline

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Objective: To determine the efficacy of the new innovative device to increase the thumb web space after the median nerve palsy

Materials and Methods: A patient reported to physiotherapy opd with diagnosed median nerve palsy with ape thumb deformity, due to Hansen's disease. His thumb web angle was measured with the help of goniometer and it was 40 degrees.

As per the discussion of the case with surgeon it was decided that it is inappropriate to do tendon transfer for correction of ape thumb deformity. And it was decided to ask the patient to undergo physiotherapeutic exercises for the remodelling and tissue growth of the thumb web. In the therapeutic plan patient was allowed to do exercise with the help of new designed device apart from doing routine passive thumb web exercises. The newly achieved increased range was maintained with the help of night time use of thumb spica splint.

Results: There was considerable improvement in the thumb web angle when patient used the innovative device. There was tissue remodelling and tissue growth in the thumb web and thumb web angle increased from 40 degree to 55 degrees in two weeks period.

Further, the motivation level of the patient was high while doing the exercises with the new device has he can easily appreciate the tissue remodelling and growth in his thumb web.

Conclusions: Thumb web angle increased more rapidly by using the new innovative device. This device will add to the existing means of improving the thumb web.