The molded polythene splint for mallet finger deformities.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Hand surgery
• Traumatology

Background:

• Mallet finger deformities can result from tendon injuries or fractures.
• Previous treatment methods may involve surgical intervention.
• Detailed outcomes of conservative management for mallet finger have been limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a molded polythene splint for treating mallet finger deformities.
• To present the technique and results of using this conservative splinting method.
• To determine if surgical intervention is necessary for severe fracture cases.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 151 cases of mallet finger deformities treated with a molded polythene splint since 1970.
• Inclusion of both tendon injuries and fracture cases.
• Average follow-up duration of 17 months.

Main Results:

• The molded polythene splint demonstrated high effectiveness in treating mallet finger injuries.
• Surgical intervention, including open reduction, was not required even for major fracture fragments without distal phalanx subluxation.
• The splint successfully managed both soft tissue and bony mallet finger injuries.

Conclusions:

• Molded polythene splinting is a highly effective conservative treatment for mallet finger deformities.
• This method obviates the need for surgical reduction in most cases, simplifying treatment.
• The study provides comprehensive data on the technique and successful outcomes of this splinting approach.