Innovative Splinting Approach for Managing Hand Contractures in Pediatric Burns: A Case Report

Hand contractures following burns are common in children and often require splinting for correction. Ready-made splints are frequently ineffective in complex deformities. This report describes a 2-year-old girl with a history of right-hand electrical burn who developed progressive claw hand deformity affecting the middle and ring fingers. She presented with proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal flexion with metacarpophalangeal hyperextension, tendon snapping in the middle finger, fragile postburn skin, and difficulty performing daily activities. After partial surgical release, a novel handmade splint applying the three-point extension principle was fabricated. Splinting was combined with structured home-based rehabilitation. After 1 month, she achieved full correction of deformity, near-full finger motion, no snapping, and independence in activities of daily living. This innovative splinting approach demonstrated promising short-term results. Further, case series with similar cases may be done and their longitudinal follow-up may be taken up to explore long-term outcomes.