Effectivity of splinting therapy for correction of anatomy in children with congenital hand deformities

Children, parents and doctors need to make important decisions in very young
children about specific treatments such as splinting therapy and surgery. These
therapies primarily aim at function and esthetics. It is of great importance
for decision making to increase to insight into the effects of interventions.
By improving our knowledge about longterm effects at all relevant levels,
indication for therapy will be more clear. The medical team as well as the
children and their parents need more insight into the implications of the
choices that can be made.
As far as we know in this population, this intervention has not been
investigated.

The objectives of this study are to gain more insight in the efficacy of
splinting therapy for correction of the anatomy and answering the followig
questions:

1.What are the effects of conservative splinting therapy in children with
congenital hand anomalies?
1. What are the effects of splinting therapy in children with congenital hand
deformities?

2. What is the optimal duration of splinting therapy

All children with congenital hand deformities that will receive conservative
splinting therapy, will be included. Included children will be measured before
therapy, and 3 , 6 12, 24, 36, 48 months after intervention. Measurements
during and after intervention will be combined with an appointments at the
outpatient clinic. Children undergoing more therapies will be measured every 3
and 6 months after therapy.
Patiënts will have to fill out 3 questionnaires concerning function in daily
life and development. The hand will be tested on several aspects, such as range
of motion and strength. The questionnaires only need to be filled out at
pre-therapy and after therapy at 12, 24 and 36, 48 months.

The intervention consists of a custommade thermoplastic splint made by a
hantherapsits and has to be worn during the night.

Burden: measurement will be performed during normal visits at the hand therapy
department for revision of the splint. Approximately 45 minutes extra time will
be needed

Risk: There is no risk for the patients of participating in this study