Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Treatment of tendinous mallet fingers using a Stack splint versus a dorsal glued splint

  • Original Article • HAND - TRAUMA
  • Published:
European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The goal of this study was to compare the results of a Stack splint compared to a dorsal glued splint in the treatment of tendinous mallet fingers. Our series included 100 patients, aged 47 years in average, among which 40 are women, with a 9-week follow-up. The first 50 patients (group I) were treated with a dorsal glued splint, and the 50 following patients (group II) were treated with a Stack splint. The average lack of active extension of the distal phalanx was 3.1° in group I and 1.74° in group II. The average pain was rated 0.22/10 in group I and 0.26/10 in group II. There were seven cases of nail dystrophies, 18 cases of macerations and five cases of swan neck deformities in group I. There were six cases of macerations and four cases of swan neck deformities in group II. The dorsal nail-glued splint gives comparable results to the Stack splint with the added advantage of leaving the fingertip free.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Valdes K, Naughton N, Algar L (2015) Conservative treatment of mallet finger: a systematic review. J Hand Ther 28:237–245

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Alla SR, Deal ND, Dempsey IJ (2014) Current concepts: mallet finger. Hand (N Y) 9:138–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Salazar Botero S, Hidalgo Diaz JJ, Benaïda A, Collon S, Facca S, Liverneaux PA (2016) Review of acute traumatic closed mallet finger injuries in adults. Arch Plast Surg 43:134–144

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Witherow EJ, Peiris CL (2015) Custom-made finger orthoses have fewer skin complications than prefabricated finger orthoses in the management of mallet injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 96:1913–1923

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Handoll HH, Vaghela MV (2004) Interventions for treating mallet finger injuries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004574.pub2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Facca S, Nonnenmacher J, Liverneaux P (2007) Treatment of mallet finger with dorsal nail glued splint: retrospective analysis of 270 cases. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot 93:682–689

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gruber JS, Bot AG, Ring D (2014) A prospective randomized controlled trial comparing night splinting with no splinting after treatment of mallet finger. Hand (N Y) 9:145–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Pike J, Mulpuri K, Metzger M et al (2010) Blinded, prospective, randomized clinical trial comparing volar, dorsal, and custom thermoplastic splinting in treatment of acute mallet finger. J Hand Surg Am 35:580–588

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Crawford GP (1984) The molded polythene splint for mallet finger deformities. J Hand Surg Am 9:231–237

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kinninmonth AW, Holburn F (1986) A comparative controlled trial of a new perforated splint and a traditional splint in the treatment of mallet finger. J Hand Surg Br 11:261–262

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Maitra A, Dorani B (1993) The conservative treatment of mallet finger with a simple splint: a case report. Arch Emerg Med 10:244–248

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Stern PJ, Kastrup JJ (1988) Complications and prognosis of treatment of mallet finger. J Hand Surg Am 13:329–334

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Lange RH, Engber WD (1983) Hyperextension mallet finger. Orthopedics 6:1426–1431

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Stack HG (1986) A modified splint for mallet finger. J Hand Surg Br 11:263

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Groth GN, Wilder DM, Young VL (1994) The impact of compliance on the rehabilitation of patients with mallet finger injuries. J Hand Ther 7:21–24

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Smit JM, Beets MR, Zeebregts CJ, Rood A, Welters CF (2010) Treatment options for mallet finger: a review. Plast Reconstr Surg 126:1624–1629

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Patel MR, Desai SS, Bassini-Lipson L (1986) Conservative management of chronic mallet finger. J Hand Surg Am 11:570–573

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Alla SR, Deal ND, Dempsey IJ (2014) Current concepts: mallet finger. Hand (N Y) 9:138–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Auchincloss JM (1982) Mallet-finger injuries: a prospective, controlled trial of internal and external splintage. Hand 14:168–173

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hand Surgery, SOS Main, CCOM, Icube CNRS, 7357, University Hospital of Strasbourg, FMTS, University of Strasbourg, 10 Avenue Baumann, 67400, Illkirch, France

    Paul Vernet, Yuka Igeta, Sybille Facca, Horia Toader, Juan José Hidalgo Diaz & Philippe Liverneaux

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan

    Yuka Igeta

Authors
  1. Paul Vernet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yuka Igeta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sybille Facca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Horia Toader
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Juan José Hidalgo Diaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Philippe Liverneaux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philippe Liverneaux.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Philippe Liverneaux has conflicts of interest with Newclip Technics, Argomedical, Biomodex, Zimmer Biomet. None of the other authors have conflicts of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Vernet, P., Igeta, Y., Facca, S. et al. Treatment of tendinous mallet fingers using a Stack splint versus a dorsal glued splint. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 29, 591–596 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-018-2349-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-018-2349-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation