A comparison study of the volar wrist cock-up splint and ulnar gutter splint in carpal tunnel syndrome.

The objective of the study was to compare the effects of the volar wrist cock-up splint and the ulnar gutter splint on three dependent measures: level of comfort, pain relief and hand function, in clients with early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Four clients with initial onset of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms participated in a study with alternating treatment design that compared the effects of the two splints. Comfort and pain were measured with perceived analogue scales and hand function was assessed using six sub-tests of the Jebsen Hand Function test. Evaluations were done every 2 weeks concurrent with the alternation of the splints for a period of 8 weeks. Descriptive analysis was used to identify differences in the dependent measures. Three participants showed improved performance in hand function tests with reduced time taken in tests following use of splints. Three participants showed reduced pain after splint use. One participant did not show changes with time taken in hand function tests or with level of pain. The study showed clinical evidence that both the splints contributed to alleviation of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. It is imperative that more efficacy studies be done to gain more confidence with the results of this study.