Article

This paper describes conservative
guidelines for the management of scapho-lunate interosseous ligament (SLIL)
injury including fabrication of an orthosis that restricts active wrist movement
to the dart-throwers (DTM) plane.
PURPOSE: The dart throwers'
orthosis (DTO) was designed as a response to biomechanical studies suggesting
that restraining motion to the DTM would off-load a deficient SLIL. METHODS:
After six weeks of wearing the DTO, the 5 patients in this case series initiated
an exercise program that incorporated wrist proprioceptive training and specific
muscle strengthening. DISCUSSION: The DTO was designed to incorporate controlled
movement in order to better integrate the secondary wrist stabilizers in wrists
that had a deficient SLIL. The orthosis and the exercise program harnessed
proprioceptive influences using active motion within the DTM plane, and
stimulated mechanoreceptors so as to enhance stability. RESULTS: All patients
demonstrated improvement in subjective and objective outcomes including
self-reported pain and function. CONCLUSIONS: Orthotic intervention that controls
motion within the DTM, combined with an appropriate proprioceptive rehabilitation
program, may provide a viable conservative treatment option for patients with a
similar clinical presentation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 Hanley & Belfus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS