Early amputation is no longer advised in the case of patients who have sustained a flail upper limb as a result of a brachial plexus lesion. Functional splintage in the form of the flail arm splint offers these patients as much as a prosthesis in the way of function and, at the same time, it allows them to retain their limb which they find more acceptable than a stump. The full flail arm splint is basically a skeleton of an upper limb prosthesis. It fits around the patient's arm and enables him to lock the elbow in one of five positions. By protracting his unaffected shoulder he can operate various terminal devices, thereby increasing his functional capabilities.
