Sylvain CELERIER is a member of the French Society of Hand Therapists (GEMMSOR) working since January 2001 on the multi-disciplinary team at the European Hand Institute of Nancy - France ; PT registered, splintmaker, hand specialist in custom-made splints for hand injuries (traumatic, rheumatoïd, rheumatic...).

The role of this site is to show all of the different splints and how they are used in our clinic.

You can find many explanations such as :
- patient information
- help with splint prescriptions
- french legislation
- publications and bibliography
- national and international events
- slide presentation
- personal pictures...

A splint is a therapeutic agent like a medecine, which belongs to the rehabilitation and readaptation physical treatments category.
Preferably, the splints are custom-made for each patients, depending on personal and professionnel profiles.
It's a treatment for one or many lesions. Knowledge of the anatomy will allow appropriate treatment.
It's important to respect clinical signs like pain, inflammation or fragile skin.
It must respect many pathological rules, according to the objectives of the splint : pain reduction, joint stabilisation, tendon sutures protection, prevention of deformities, prevention of edema, immobilisation, correction, deficient moteur aid, motion range recuperation, compression, posture...

It's important to distinguish between static and dynamic splints.
Static splints are the base of dynamic splints which are made by adding a motor.
We use some compressive splints such as the finger splint and gloves.

Publication (2009)

Hand splints : fundamentals on supportive braces for the hand, wrist and fingers
CELERIER Sylvain

Abstract :
Introduction: Hand, wrist and finger ortheses are an important part of the therapeutic armamentarium for hand disorders whether caused by trauma, neurological deficit, rheumatoid disease or a degenerative process. They are a crucial element for hand rehabilitation.
Purpose: The purpose of this article is to present the fundamental aspects of hand ortheses, as used in daily practice, and demonstrated by a specialized pluridisciplinary team.
Material and methods: After recalling the indispensable prerequisites, we expose our experience of exclusively custom-
made devices.
Results: The process involves the choice of the thermomodulable material and especially expert knowledge of supportive devices and their use. Indications are specific, with variable objectives, from temporary immobilization to recovery of joint range of motion. We propose a classification according to the initial context of the medical prescription.
Conclusion: Custom-made devices adapt better to each individual morphology, irrespective of the deformity, compared with manufactured devices. These custom-made devices must be precise and effective to meet the specific goals of each situation. Monitoring is a fundamental step of the therapeutic process.

Keywords : Template – Hand – Orthesis – Orthopedics – Monitoring –Thermomodulable

Kinésithérapie, La revue (Geste pratique) 2009;(95):21-29
Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits réservés