MSK injury? Make splinting choices based on the evidence

Harms: No documented harmful adverse effects (AEs) have been reported with splinting for this condition.

Bottom line: A thumb spica splint remains an option for de Quervain tendinopathy. It may provide symptomatic relief, especially if used early in the disease, but does not alter the natural disease course.

Lateral/medial epicondyle pain

Also known as tennis/golfer’s elbow, lateral/medial epicondyle pain is thought to result from overuse of the common wrist extensor/flexor muscle origins at the site of the myotendinous junctions.

Goal of splinting: To dampen or disperse the forces at the painful area via a counterforce brace (FIGURE 3). In addition, braces are used to decrease wrist use, specifically extension or flexion.

^{IMAGE COURTESY OF: GEOFFREY A. MCLEOD, DO, CAQSM}

A thumb spica splint remains an option for de Quervain tendinopathy.

Evidence: A 2002 Cochrane Review found insufficient data to support the use of counterforce braces for relief of acute or chronic pain symptoms associated with epicondyle pain.Several studies supporting their use within this review were of varying quality with weak evidence.¹²

Continue to: Volar wrist braces have also been...