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Custom-made finger splint versus prefabricated finger splint: finger flexion stabilization
Enver Güven1, Sinem Suner-Keklik2
1Ankara University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics - Ankara, Turkey.
Revista Da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992)
|August 10, 2022
Summary
Custom-made finger splints significantly reduce joint flexion more effectively than prefabricated options. This finding is crucial for optimizing immobilization in finger injury treatments.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Finger splints are essential for immobilizing injured tendons, bones, and soft tissues.
- Both custom-made and prefabricated finger splints are utilized for this purpose.
- Effective immobilization aims to limit joint movement to facilitate healing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively compare the joint motion limitation provided by custom-made versus prefabricated finger splints.
- To assess the efficacy of different splint types in controlling flexion at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 40 healthy participants (20 male, 20 female) was conducted.
- Custom-made and prefabricated finger splints were applied to the dominant second finger.
- Joint flexion angles were measured using the iPhone compass application during active flexion.
Main Results:
- Custom-made splints resulted in significantly lower DIP joint flexion (mean 0.52° ± 1.50°) compared to prefabricated splints (mean 24.27° ± 8.29°, p<0.001).
- Custom-made splints achieved complete immobilization (0°) of the PIP joint, while prefabricated splints allowed a mean flexion of 16.55° ± 7.90° (p<0.001).
- A statistically significant difference was observed in both DIP and PIP joint motion limitation between the two splint types.
Conclusions:
- Custom-made finger splints offer superior immobilization of interphalangeal joints compared to prefabricated splints.
- The findings suggest custom splints are more effective in limiting finger joint flexion for injury management.
- This enhanced immobilization may lead to improved outcomes in treating finger injuries requiring restricted movement.
