Necessity is the mother of invention as the saying goes, how true is that. Need of splinting for the children like Sonali and Sagar was a major necessity to prevent further development of hand deformity. Lack of resources led to difficulty in making the splinting material and equipment to be made available at the Handimachal Unit. A eureka moment during a therapy session to Sagar led to an idea of using the hard flex board in the store room to make trial splints. The hard flex board was indeed a great alternative making it an easily available, cheap, moldable and durable material for the trial splint. Here are some of the children who have benefited from the trial splints until the material for the actual splints is made available shortly.
David is a 4 year old bright boy studying in Nursery class under the integrated education programme set up at Day Star School, Manali. He is a case of Left Hemiplegia, with grade 1+ spasticity in his left hand. The trial resting pan splints now positions his hand in a neutral and functional position. David has difficulties in bilateral hand activities and isolated finger movements which affects his independences in ADL. David was so happy to wear the splints thinking that the splint now makes him a Superman with a magical hand.
Sagar is a 14 year old very energetic and social boy studying in 2nd standard at Govt. school, Sultanpur. Sagar is a case of a road traffic accident with brain injury with a consequent Rt Hemiplegia. Sagar has grade 2 spasticity in his arm and hand which positions his shoulder in adduction and internal rotation with wrist in flexion and fingers extended. The resting pan splints now positions Sagar’s hand in more neutral and functional position. Sagar is so optimistic about the benefits of the splints that he does not want to remove the splint till his hand is, in his words “straight” again.
Sonali is a 16 year old joyful girl with quadriplegic cerebral palsy to whom we provide therapy at her home in Naggar with grade 3 spasticity in both her hands. The trail resting pan splint now positions her hands in a neutral and functional position and will prevent hand deformity. Sonali was happy to wear her new hand splints and seemed to be self motivated to make the best of it.
Kannah is a 3 year old mischievous boy with Left Hemiplegia. With slight increase in tone in his hand muscles, his hand has a tendency to go in wrist flexion with fingers extended. He is now after regular therapy intervention for 3 months, is motivated to actively use his left hand in activities. The little inquisitive boy that he is, he enjoys exploring the splint.
Sandy is a 9 year old pretty girl always up for fun. She is a case of Left Hemiplegia. With slight increase in tone in her left hand, her hand has a tendency to go in wrist flexion with fingers extended. The trail splint now positions her hand in a more functional position. Sandy seems to be a little bothered with the not so aesthetic look of splints, a grille girl that she is.
Shruti More, occupational therapist,
Handimachal Kullu Therapy Unit
