VCOM Research Day Program Book 2023

Medical Student Research Educational

02 Relative Motion Orthoses for Extensor Tendon Zone V Injury and Repair

Isabella M. Cashin, OMS II; Dr. Tiffany L. Carpenetti Corresponding author: icashin@vcom.edu

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Virginia Campus

Relative motion was originally developed for injuries to the dorsum of the hand including extensor tendon injuries, sagittal band ruptures and more recently is being studied for its use in Boutonnieres deformity and flexor tendon repair. The focus of this project is injury to zone V extensor tendons. These injuries have traditionally been treated with immobilization for up to 6 weeks which can lead to chronic joint stiffness and loss of flexion 3 . Relative Motion Orthoses (RMO)

provides immediate full active motion that is only restricted up to 15 to 20 of flexion or extension in the injured tendon(s) following repair 3,4 . RMO utilizes the “Quadriga Effect” and places the injured finger into 15 20 of extension relative to the adjacent fingers thus alleviating stress on the affected tendon for repair but still allowing for full range of motion in the adjacent fingers 3 . The benefit of RMO includes

but are not limited to as follows: encouragement for full active motion immediately following repair, less bulk for ease of motion, reduced time off work when compared to traditional casting, and overall decrease in morbidity 3,4

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