Opens a contracted hand, gradually and without force.
The Carrot Splint is an inflatable orthosis for adults whose hand has closed after a stroke, brain injury or other neurological condition. Deflated, it slips into even a tightly clenched hand. Inflated a little at a time, it lifts the fingers away from the palm so the skin can be cleaned, dried and protected.
€69 per kit. VAT and delivery within the EU included.
- CE marked medical device
- Reusable, non-invasive
- Shipped from Ireland to 27 countries
How it works
Four steps, taken from the instructions supplied with every kit. It is all done with the hand at rest and should never cause discomfort.
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1 / 4Prepare the Carrot
Partly inflate the Carrot and slip it into one of the cloth covers, drawing the cord snug around the valve. Thread the loop at the tip of the cover through the eye of the placement wand.
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2 / 4Draw it into the hand
Slide the wand gently through the closed hand and draw the Carrot in behind it, starting at the little-finger side, until you feel light resistance. If it is pulled too hard the loop lets go, so the hand is never forced.
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3 / 4Inflate a little at a time
Fit the clear tip of the bulb to the valve and squeeze gently; two or three squeezes is enough. Stop when the fingers have lifted from the palm. There is no need to remove every wrinkle.
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4 / 4Remove, clean, repeat
To take it out, open the valve and let the air escape before withdrawing slowly, especially where the skin is fragile. Rinse the Carrot in warm soapy water, hand-wash the cover, and dry both before the next use.
As the hand opens over the following weeks, the Carrot can be inflated a little further, and later drawn in from the index-finger side. The markings on the cover let you record how far the hand has opened.
Use under the guidance of a health professional. Check the skin each time the Carrot is removed.
Products
Most people start with the full kit. The Carrot and the accessories are also sold separately so a kit can be kept in use for years.
Intended purpose
A reusable, non-sterile, non-invasive inflatable orthosis placed in the palm of a patient with a severe hand contracture in order to progressively open the fingers away from the palm. It facilitates hygiene access, reduces the risk of maceration, pressure injury and nail puncture of the palm, and supports passive stretching of the contracted hand. Indicated for adult patients with hand contractures secondary to neurological conditions.
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The Carrot Splint, full kit
Hand Contracture OrthosisOne inflatable Carrot, two cloth covers with progress markings, one inflator bulb, two placement wands. Everything needed to start.
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Replacement Carrot
Hand Contracture OrthosisThe inflatable Carrot only. For use with covers, bulb and wands you already have.
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Accessory pack
Covers, bulb and wandsTwo cloth covers, one inflator bulb, two placement wands. Covers are hand-washed between uses, so a spare set keeps one always ready.
- Length
- 18.4 cm
- Maximum circumference, inflated
- 14.6 cm
- Sizing
- One size, adult, either hand
- Regulatory
- CE marked medical device, non-sterile, reusable
- Care
- Carrot: rinse in warm soapy water. Cover: hand-wash, air-dry.
- Shipped from
- Ireland, to the 27 EU countries
Instructions for use
Read the full instructions supplied with every kit. The current version, IFU-CAR-001 Rev A, can be downloaded here as a PDF in English. Other languages will follow.
Hospitals, care homes and distributors: quantity pricing is available for ten kits or more, with invoicing and purchase orders accepted.
Ask for a quoteWho it is for
Adults whose hand has closed into a fist because of a neurological condition, where the skin of the palm can no longer be reached, cleaned or protected. Typical conditions include:
- Stroke
- Traumatic or acquired brain injury
- Cerebral palsy in adults
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Advanced dementia
- Spinal cord injury
- Motor neurone disease
- Long-term immobility in residential care
Not intended for contractures of connective-tissue origin such as Dupuytren's, or for hands with open wounds or unstable fractures. Ask the treating clinician if unsure.
Why not a foam roll or a rigid splint?
A foam cushion has to be pushed into the hand, so it only works once the hand is already partly open. A rigid resting splint needs the fingers to be extended before it can be fitted. Neither helps when the hand is fully closed.
The Carrot goes in deflated and is drawn into place with a wand, which is why it works on the hands the other products cannot reach. Because it is inflated gradually, the opening is set by comfort rather than by the shape of a device.
Once the hand has opened enough, some people move on to a foam roll or a resting splint for maintenance. The Carrot is the tool that gets them there.
Carrot Splint, palm cone, foam roll or resting splint: which one for a closed hand?
Questions and answers
The questions we are asked most often by therapists, nurses and family carers. If yours is not here, write to us.
Who is the Carrot Splint for?
Adults whose hand has closed into a fist because of a neurological condition such as stroke, brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease or advanced dementia, where the palm can no longer be reached, cleaned or protected. It is used by occupational therapists, nurses and care staff, and by family carers at home under the guidance of a health professional.
Will it work if the hand is completely closed?
Yes. That is what the Carrot is designed for. It goes into the hand deflated and is drawn in with the placement wand, so it does not need the fingers to be opened first. Foam rolls and rigid splints both need a partly open hand before they can be fitted.
Does it hurt?
It should not. The Carrot is inflated a little at a time, usually two or three squeezes of the bulb, and you stop as soon as the fingers lift from the palm. The hand is never forced open. If the person shows any sign of discomfort, let some air out.
How long should it stay in the hand?
The instructions do not set a fixed time. Follow the advice of the treating clinician, who will take the condition of the hand and skin into account. Check the skin every time the Carrot is removed.
How do I know it is inflated enough?
Stop when the fingers have lifted away from the palm and the skin can be reached. There is no need to remove every wrinkle from the cover. Over the following weeks the Carrot can be inflated a little further as the hand opens.
Can I use it on either hand?
Yes. The Carrot is one size, for adults, and fits either hand.
Is it suitable for children?
The Carrot is indicated for adults. Ask the treating clinician about children.
Can it be used with Dupuytren's contracture?
No. The Carrot is for contractures of neurological origin. It is not intended for contractures of connective-tissue origin such as Dupuytren's, or for hands with open wounds or unstable fractures.
How do I clean it?
Rinse the Carrot in warm soapy water and let it dry. Hand-wash the cloth cover and air-dry it. A second cover is supplied so one is always ready while the other dries.
How long does a Carrot last?
With normal daily use and care it is designed to last for years. Replacement Carrots and accessory packs are sold separately so a kit stays in use.
What is in the kit?
One inflatable Carrot, two cloth covers with progress markings, one inflator bulb and two placement wands.
Is it a medical device?
Yes. The Carrot Splint is a CE marked, Class I, non-sterile, reusable medical device, placed on the EU market by Kettering Surgical (Ireland) Limited.
Do I need a prescription?
No. The Carrot can be bought by anyone. We recommend it is used under the guidance of a health professional, who can also advise on how long to use it each day.
How quickly will it arrive?
Orders placed before 14:00 on a working day are dispatched the same day from Ireland. Ireland 1 to 2 working days; most of the EU 2 to 5; Nordic countries and islands up to 7. Delivery and VAT are included in the price.
Can I return it?
You can cancel within 14 days of delivery for any reason. For hygiene reasons the Carrot must be unused and in its sealed pack. Faulty items are replaced at our cost.
Do you supply hospitals and care homes?
Yes. Quantity pricing applies from ten kits, and we accept purchase orders with 30-day terms for verified organisations.
Read more
Answers to common questions, a comparison with other palm protectors, and guidance for specific conditions.
Questions and answers
Who the Carrot Splint is for, whether it hurts, how to clean it, how long it lasts, delivery across the EU and returns. Answers from the distributor.
Carrot Splint, palm cone, foam roll or resting splint: which one for a closed hand?
Which device suits a closed, contracted hand. The Carrot Splint compared with palm cones, foam rolls and rigid resting splints, from the carer's point of view.
Hand contracture after stroke
After a stroke the affected hand can close into a fist. How the Carrot Splint opens it gradually so the palm can be cleaned and protected. Shipped across the EU.
Hand care in advanced dementia
In later-stage dementia a hand may close into a fist and the person cannot say when care hurts. How the Carrot Splint allows calm, gentle hand care.
For care homes and nursing teams
One reusable device, one size, either hand, simple for care staff to use. Quantity pricing from ten kits, purchase orders and 30-day terms, delivery to all 27 EU countries.
Delivery and returns
Dispatch
Orders placed before 14:00 on a working day are dispatched the same day from our stock in Ireland. You receive a tracking link by email.
Delivery times
Ireland 1 to 2 working days. Most of the EU 2 to 5 working days. Nordic countries and islands up to 7. Delivery is included in the price.
Prices and VAT
Prices are shown in euro and include VAT at the rate of your country. In countries outside the euro, the checkout shows the equivalent in your currency.
Returns
You may cancel within 14 days of delivery for any reason. For hygiene reasons the Carrot must be unused and in its sealed pack; covers and accessories may be returned if unused. Faulty items are replaced at our cost.
Hospitals and care providers
Purchase orders and invoicing with 30-day terms are available for verified organisations. Ask for a quote below.
We deliver to
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
We do not currently deliver to the United Kingdom or Switzerland.
Contact
Questions about suitability, bulk orders, or an order already placed. We reply on working days, usually within a few hours, in English.
The Carrot SplintKettering Surgical (Ireland) Limited
71 Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2, D02 P593, Ireland
info@ketteringsurgical.eu
+353 21 234 8284
Orders ship from our distribution centre in Cork.