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While the burned parts of the body are healing, you sometimes need to give the injured areas extra support and keep them from moving around. To do this, we use orthotics or splints. They are used to maintain or regain a normal position for the part of the body that has been burned. Splints are also used to stretch and soften tight skin and scars.
Splints or orthotics are used to hold parts of the body in the best position in order to:
- Support and protect the burned areas while healing
- Prevent the skin from shrinking as it heals
- Restore range of motion of a joint by stretching the skin
Sandals
Custom-made sandals for the feet are generally used for frostbite burns.
Purpose: make walking more comfortable
Wearing: usually worn only while walking
Discomfort: most people say it is more comfortable to walk with sandals on than without because they are padded with foam or fur
Finger extension trough splints
Purpose: to support a finger joint so that it heals without contracting and to prevent deformity
Wearing: varies; a common schedule would be to wear it at night while resting and take it off during the day for exercise and activity
Discomfort: usually none
Resting hand splint
Purpose: to support the hand and wrist joints so that they heal without contracting and so that a deformity does not develop
Wearing: varies; a common schedule would be to wear it at night while resting and take it off during the day for exercise and activity
Discomfort: usually none
Interdigital (between the fingers) inserts
Inserts for between fingers and thumb web space
Purpose: to prevent the skin from shrinking as it heals and to restore range of motion by stretching the skin
Wearing: usually full-time under compression gloves
Discomfort: doesn't usually hurt unless the skin that the spacer is pushing against breaks open
Cast for a hand
Cast material (plaster or fiberglass)
Purpose: worn as a splint to protect the graft, prevent the skin from shrinking as it heals and restore range of motion by stretching the skin
Wearing: a casting program varies; it might be worn for weeks at a time or it could be a removable cast that is put on only at night
Discomfort: not usually painful; it might feel tight at first
Cast for the elbow
Cast material (plaster or fiberglass)
Purpose: worn as a splint to prevent the skin from shrinking as it heals and restore range of motion by stretching the skin
Wearing: a casting program varies; it might be worn for weeks at a time or it might be a removable cast that is put on only at night
Discomfort: not usually painful; it might feel tight at first
Continuous passive motion (CPM) machine for the hand
Splint for the hand
Purpose: used to restore range of motion by constantly moving the joint with a machine; the CPM also stretches the skin as it moves the joints through range of motion
Wearing: part-time
Discomfort: not usually painful
Continuous passive motion (CPM) machine for the elbow
Splint for an elbow
Purpose: used to restore range of motion by constantly moving the joint with a machine; the CPM also stretches the skin as it moves the joints through range of motion
Wearing: part-time
Discomfort: not usually painful
Clavicle strap
A strap for the shoulders
Purpose: to prevent the skin from shrinking as it heals and restore motion by stretching the skin
Wearing: varies; may be part-time or full-time, often used to help hold an axillary splint in place
Discomfort: not usually; may feel tight on the armpits at first
Airplane or axillary splint
Splint for the shoulders or axilla
Purpose: used to prevent the skin from shrinking as it heals and to restore range of motion by stretching the skin under the arms
Wearing: varies; may be part-time or full-time
Discomfort: not usually; may feel tight on the armpits at first
Iowa City mouth splint
Purpose: to keep mouth from shrinking
Wearing: part-time; it is usually worn with/under a face mask
Discomfort: at first it might be a little uncomfortable; doing face exercises and cheek stretching exercises help to make wearing a mouth splint easier
MacFarlane mouth splint
A mouth splint custom-made by a dentist
Purpose: to keep mouth from shrinking
Wearing: part-time; it is usually worn under a face mask
Discomfort: at first it might be a little uncomfortable; doing face exercises and cheek stretching exercises help to make wearing a mouth splint easier
Therabite
Mouth exercise splint
Purpose: to stretch mouth
Wearing: usually done as part of face exercise program; exercises should be done 2–3 times each day for 12–18 months
Discomfort: maybe slight until the exercise becomes routine
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