The intrinsic Plus splint is used to avoid what complication after a hand injury?

• A. Prevents nerve entrapment
• B. Avoid ligament contracture
• C. Avoid muscle atrophy
• D. Improve grip strength

Answer: (B)

The key idea is to prevent ligament shortening by keeping the hand in a position that maintains balanced length and tension in the finger joints. In the intrinsic plus (safe) position, the metacarpophalangeal joints are flexed while the interphalangeal joints are extended. This arrangement places the collateral ligaments and surrounding palmar structures in a lengthened, nonshortened state, which helps avert fixed flexion contractures that can develop after hand injury or burn healing. By preserving web space and preventing tightening of these ligaments, the hand is more likely to regain normal motion later on.

This isn’t primarily about nerve entrapment, muscle atrophy, or directly increasing grip strength; those are addressed by different approaches.