A rigid fracture brace having a rigid and non-bendable in use U-shaped
member with an inner, soft-cushioned layer carried on an outer rigid layer
defining an open inner cavity for laterally receiving and supporting a
user's hand, adjacent to the metacarpal grouping of hand bones. The member
is of high aspect ratio and is held in position by a three strap system
which includes a lower thumb strap, a middle palm strap and an upper palm
strap immediately below the fingers. One end of each strap is immovably
fixed to the backside of the member and securement of each strap to the
member includes a loop associated with each strap. Each strap further
includes a two-component hook and pile fastener so as to avoid critical
registration of holes and tongs. The pile component of the fastener is
carried along the backside of each strap and each strap terminates with a
free-end carrying the hook component of the fastener at the tip of the
inside surface of each strap. The free end of each strap is adapted to be
trained through associated loops of the strapping assembly. The inventive
brace extends from the base of the hypothenar eminence to beyond the fifth
metacarpal-phalangeal joint to support the base of the proximal phalanx of
the fifth finger.
