United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I hear a lot of times people refering to using or having used casts or splints. My son had a nerve transfer but we were never told to use these. All we were told to do was to use a "medical strip" to hold his arm close to the body and prevent movement. He used this for perhaps 10 days.
Why do you use casts or splints? Are they for specific cases or are there difference of opinions as to their use?
I can understand using a cast could be good for certain aspects but then he probably wouldn't be using his hand like he is. He is only 6 months and despite not having bicep function he uses his hand, tries to catch toys in the water when they pass near his hand, takes his hand to his mouth all the time with the help of the other hand, and today even took his soother from one hand to the other! Even during the night he holds his hand...

I'm not sure if you are asking about splints and casts after surgery or just in general.
I will share my experience with both a cast and splint.
At approx 8 months old Mariella started developing an elbow contracture so our PT made a night time extension splint for her to wear during her sleep. I tried to get it on her during the day sometimes also for a little extra help on that contracture. We have trouble getting it on her now b/c she is almost 3 and doesn't like it. She does wear it every now and then and hopefully as she gets older she will learn that this is to help her.
Cast...
Ella had a cast after her secondary surgery and she wore it for about 5 weeks. It was the Spica cast (arm bent up on air like this shape... ( |_ )
That shape I showed you is her arm. Hand to elbow, and then elbow to body.
So we had experience with both and for our problems they were both very much needed.
~Krista~

Cinanina, take a gander at this page, it'll show you a lot of different things that may be used. http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia/splints.html

Of course there way more than what's shown on that page because each hospital has their own methodology. For nerve transfers, hospitals immobilize in different ways. I think a lot of it is fear related or fear of failure related. My daughter had a very lightweight foam immobilizer. But I have pictures of infants on my site that were casted all around their head.