A Comparison Study of Three Standard Elbow Wrist Hand Orthoses to Limit Forearm Rotation

Common upper extremity injuries often need to heal with no wrist and forearm range of motion. Forearm range of motion includes supination and pronation. Injuries that necessitate limiting forearm range of motion include fracture patterns involving the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ), proximal radioulnar joint (PRUJ), triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC), both bone forearm fractures, ulnar shortening procedures, radial and ulnar osteotomies, DRUJ instability. Long arm orthoses, sugar tong orthoses and muenster style orthoses can all limit forearm rotation.

Past research has indicated common methods of immobilization to include the following: sugar tongs cast/orthosis, muenster cast/orthosis, long arm cast/orthosis/or short arm cast/orthosis, and an antirotation orthosis.

Currently, there are no research studies that compare the amount of forearm rotation in a traditional thermoplastic orthoses to newer materials such as a Delta Cast orthosis, or prefabricated muenster orthoses such as the Hely and Weber MTC Fracture Brace. The purpose of this study is to assess which orthosis-a traditional thermoplastic ulnar based muenster, a delta cast style muenster and the Hely and Weber MTC Fracture Brace-allows for the least amount of supination and pronation in a healthy population in the dominant extremity.

The researchers will assess the 3 different orthoses using a standard measuring device for pronation and supination. The participants will also be asked questions regarding comfort, fit, and style of each orthosis. 30 Participants data will be collected during the study.