Case report illustrating use of serial elastic tension digital neoprene orthoses (ETDNO) protocol in the treatment of proximal interphalangeal joint flexion contracture

Stiffness of the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) is one of the most frequent problems encountered after hand trauma1 and immobilization.2,3 As the wound healing process advances into the remodeling phase, lack of appropriate tensile forces can result in shortened and less extensible scar tissue. At this point in the healing process, stiffness becomes difficult to modify.2 After trauma, scar tissue affects anatomical structures and spaces through arthrofibrosis and contracture.3 The PIPJ assumes the loose pack position in mid-flexion,4 Edema then takes up space in the redundant tissues and further restricts motion.
Source: Journal of Hand Therapy - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Source Type: research