Complex Orthoses Made Simply and Effectively (Recorded Webinar)

Course overview

This course is a recording of a previously hosted live webinar event. Polling and question submission features are not available for this recording. Format and structure may differ from standard MedBridge courses. In many hand therapy clinics and departments around the world, therapists are being asked to evaluate and treat their clients quickly but effectively. Often therapists have little or no time between clients, and in fact, clients often have overlapping appointments. Therefore, there is a need to increase the efficiency of all aspects of hand therapy treatments, including orthotic fabrication. While the fabrication process and molding of an orthosis on a client should never be rushed, this course will feature simplified fabrication techniques for both complex and simple orthoses, which can help reduce the time needed to fabricate each orthosis. The course will cover descriptions of seven clinical diagnoses, discuss orthotic interventions for each, and show a live orthotic fabrication session highlighting a specific orthotic design. Client wearing schedules will be discussed, as well as tips for increasing client compliance. Topics and orthotic fabrication demonstrations will include the following: 1. Limitation of forearm rotation with a Muenster orthosis 2. Clinical conditions requiring the use of thumb orthoses (both short opponens and long opponens orthoses) 3. Proximal interphalangeal joint orthoses: static and dynamic orthoses to manage PIP flexion contractures, anti-swan-neck deformities, and simple finger immobilization 4. Clinical conditions benefiting from the use of relative motion orthoses 5. Creation of cost-effective hinges out of thermoplastic material that allow motion in a desired direction while limiting or preventing motion in an undesired direction