Modified coaptation splint with sugar tong intrinsic plus extension for initial management of wrist drop

Abstract

[...]in cases of wrist drop secondary to radial nerve palsy, an additional cock-up wrist splint is often required to prevent associated complications of wrist drop, which include carpal tunnel symptoms, loss of wrist motion, and contractures of the proximal and distal interphalangeal finger joints. Proper immobilization of the wrist is necessary in the acute setting of radial nerve palsy secondary to closed humeral shaft fracture, as the current standard of treatment is conservative, waiting at least 3 to 6months for radial nerve function to return before surgical exploration is considered [2].