Diagram of wrist hand orthoses
wrist hand orthosis types diagram labeled
Medical educational diagram of wrist hand orthoses showing 4 types: 1) Static Wrist Hand Orthosis - rigid splint holding wrist in neutral extension, labeled parts including forearm trough, wrist support bar, palmar pan, and velcro straps; 2) Dynamic Wrist Hand Orthosis - showing outrigger wires with finger slings for active finger extension assist; 3) Opponens Splint / Thumb Spica - holding thumb in opposition and abduction with labeled thumb post; 4) Wrist-Driven Flexor Hinge Orthosis - used in cervical quadriplegia, showing tenodesis mechanism with finger capture. Each type cleanly labeled with its name and key anatomical components. Clean white background, professional medical illustration style, color-coded by type.
Wrist-Hand Orthoses (WHO)
Classification by Function
| Type | Mechanism | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Static | Rigid, no movement | Immobilizes joint in set position |
| Static-Progressive | Incrementally adjustable | Serial repositioning to increase ROM |
| Dynamic | Springs/outriggers allow motion | Assists or resists movement |
Major Types
- Holds wrist in ~20-30° extension, MCPs in 70-90° flexion, thumb abducted
- Used for: RA, post-op recovery, spasticity management, burn care
- Components: forearm trough, palmar pan, finger trough, Velcro straps
- Immobilizes wrist only; fingers and thumb are free
- Used for: carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist sprains, de Quervain's tenosynovitis, radial nerve palsy
- Has outrigger wires with finger slings to assist extension or flexion
- Used for: radial nerve palsy (low, high), post-tendon repair, Dupuytren's post-op
- Components: forearm base, outrigger, rubber band/spring, finger loops
- Positions thumb in palmar abduction/opposition
- Used for: median nerve palsy, CMC joint OA, scaphoid fractures
- Keeps fingers and wrist mobile while protecting the thumb
- Used in lower cervical quadriplegia (C6-C7 level)
- Wrist extension passively closes fingers (tenodesis action); wrist flexion opens them
- Can be body-powered or motorized
- Per Miller's Review of Orthopaedics: "wrist-driven hand orthoses are used in patients with lower cervical quadriplegia; the devices may be body-powered by tenodesis action or motor-driven; weight and cumbersomeness are the major limiting factors"
Additional Visual References
Key Clinical Notes (from Miller's Review of Orthopaedics, p. 887)
- Most common use today is postoperative care after injury or reconstructive surgery
- Devices can be static, static-progressive, or dynamic depending on the goal
- The opponens splint prepositiones the thumb but impairs tactile sensation
- In cervical quadriplegia, weight and cumbersomeness are the main limiting factors of wrist-driven orthoses
Diagrams of functional resting and splin diagram of dynamic wrist and orthosis diagram of dynamic finger extension orthosis
Medical educational diagram of a Functional Position Splint (wrist hand orthosis). Shows the hand and forearm in functional position: wrist extended 20-30 degrees, MCPs flexed 60-70 degrees, IPJs slightly flexed, thumb in mid-opposition. Labeled diagram with arrows pointing to: Forearm Trough, Wrist Bar (20-30° extension), Palmar Pan, MCP flexion (60-70°), IP flexion (slight), Thumb Abduction Post, Velcro Straps. Side profile and dorsal view. Clean white background, professional medical illustration, blue and grey color scheme.
Medical educational diagram of a Resting Hand Splint (resting pan splint / anti-spasticity splint). Shows hand and forearm in resting position: wrist in neutral to slight extension (0-20 degrees), MCPs slightly flexed, all fingers extended and adducted, thumb abducted. Labeled parts with arrows: Forearm Trough, Wrist support (neutral), Finger trough/pan (fingers straight), Thumb trough (abducted), Velcro straps x3. Both dorsal and side profile view. Clean white background, professional medical illustration, green and grey color scheme.
Detailed medical educational diagram of a Dynamic Wrist Hand Orthosis. Shows forearm base with upright outrigger bar, rubber band finger slings assisting wrist extension and finger extension. Labeled components with arrows: Forearm base/trough, Dorsal outrigger bar, Wrist extension spring/rubber band assist, Finger slings (index, middle, ring, little), Thumb post, Palmar stop, Velcro closure straps. Mechanism arrows showing direction of assisted movement (extension). Lateral and dorsal view. Clean white background, professional anatomical illustration, orange and grey color scheme.
Detailed medical educational diagram of a Dynamic Finger Extension Orthosis (low-profile outrigger splint for MCP extension). Shows hand-based splint with low-profile outrigger, finger slings over proximal phalanges pulling fingers into extension at MCP joints. Labeled components with arrows: Hand-based forearm trough, Low-profile outrigger, Rubber band / coil spring, Finger loops / slings (on each finger), Line of pull at 90 degrees to proximal phalanx, MCP joints shown in flexion contracture being corrected to extension. Two diagrams: before correction (fingers flexed) and during correction (slings pulling into extension). Clinical use labeled: radial nerve palsy, post Dupuytren release, extensor tendon repair. Clean white background, professional medical illustration style, red and grey color scheme, clearly labeled.
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