United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My 2 year old daughter has a very slight contracture of her elbow (in fact, you really only notice it when she puts her arm up over her head). After reviewing a video of her, Dr. Nath recommended using a dynasplint at night. Before I talk to our therapist about it, I just wanted to get some more info on them. Is there a certain kind or a certain company that is preferred? I would be interested in learning about anyone's experience or advice concerning dynasplints. Thanks!

We have been using an ultraflex with Bradley almost 3 robpi. He's on his second one, he's growing so fast. His new one has a supinator attatchment to it. Francine has a link regarding anything you need to know about these splints. Check it out.....
Francine's daughter had both splints and has pictures of them on her page http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia/splints.html
her e-mail is..... francine@injurednewborn.com

We did a 'product spotlight' on dynasplints in the Spring 2003 Issue of Outreach, Issue #13. It is written by a PT who works for Dynasplint and explains how and why joint stiffness and contractures associated with bpi can be treated with a dynasplint.

If you don't have that issue and would like one, please email me and I'll get one out to you. (nancy@ubpn.org).

Nancy Birk
UBPN President

I am 32 years old and am using the dynasplint now. The only thing I can recommend is to listen to your child if the splint seems to be causing pain or numbness feeling in their hands/wrists. It has taken over 2 months to finally get the splint to feel comfortable for myself. Apparently my physical therapist said that the dynasplints do not account for our internal rotation and therefore the last cuff on the splint of the forearm puts pressure on the radial nerve. I have had a numb/tingling thumb now for 2 months, and we are hoping that once the splinting process is done the nerve will return to normal. For me because my elbow contracture has been so long the splint is not working. I believe if I would have used it as child through my growing ages it would have worked great. So as an adult who can relate to the splint just listen to your child and try to make any adjustments possible to help with the comfort. I ended up needing to wear a protective splint with lots of padding under the Dynasplint to protect my radial nerve.