A modified thumb spica splint for thumb injuries in the ED

There are a significant number of hand and upper extremity injuries treated in US emergency departments (EDs) each year. Many of these involve the thumb and wrist. These injuries encompass the range from fractures, strains, and sprains to more specific injuries such as gamekeeper thumb and de Quervain tenosynovitis. These injuries often require diagnosis, splinting, and referral to a hand or orthopedic surgeon. The splint described in this article is presently being used for patients with de Quervain tenosynovitis, but it may have more widespread application in emergency medicine. It is a safe and simple splint that is underused in EDs for splinting thumb injuries.