03/02/2026
This patient had a long-standing hand contracture with her fingers curled into her palm for years. She had tried multiple prefab and custom splints over that time, none comfortable enough to wear consistently.
Following recent surgery, we had a real opportunity to work on reducing the contracture and improving finger extension. Realistic expectations were important here; we knew a full correction wasn’t a practical goal.
What mattered most was finding something she would actually use. After hearing her history with splints, we decided to try something different. We took an exercise cone and converted it into a night splint. Padded, comfortable, and sized to gently position her fingers into some extension, not allowing flexion to the palm.
It’s the first splint she has ever been able to wear through the night! That’s a win!
Sometimes the best intervention isn’t the textbook one. Listening to your patient’s experience and being willing to adapt is half the work.
