A mallet finger is a common injury where rupture or division of the extensor mechanism
at the level of the distal interphalangeal joint of the finger prevents active extension.
These injuries are managed in a variety of settings such as accident and emergency
departments, hand clinics and occupational therapy centres. Treatment commonly involves
splinting of the finger for 6 or more weeks. Less frequently, surgical fixation is
used to correct the deformity. The patient outcome following either external splinting
or surgical management is broadly similar and each technique has its own advocates.
1
Several forms of external splinting have been described with the Stack splint being
in common use.
2
If the splint is worn correctly the outcome is usually good. However, unsatisfactory
outcomes are frequently encountered due to poor patient compliance with the splint.
3
In an effort to increase our success rate with the management of mallet finger injuries
we introduced patient information leaflets documenting the correct use of the Stack
and audited their impact on our outcomes.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic SurgeryAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Interventions for treating mallet finger injuries.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004; 3 (CD004574)
- A modified splint for mallet finger.J Hand Surg [Br]. 1986; 11: 263
- A comparative controlled trial of a new perforated splint and a traditional splint in the treatment of mallet finger.J Hand Surg [Br]. 1986; 11: 261-262
- The treatment of mallet finger. The results in a series of 148 consecutive cases and a review of the literature.Br J Surg. 1968; 55: 653-667
- Mallet finger: a trial of two splints.J Hand Surg [Br]. 1988; 13: 151-153
- The NHS Plan: A Plan for Investment, A Plan for Reform.HMSO, London2000
- Effect of educational leaflets and questions on knowledge of contraception in women taking the combined contraceptive pill: randomised controlled trial.BMJ. 1998; 316: 1948-1952
- Reducing antibiotic use for acute bronchitis in primary care: blinded, randomised controlled trial of patient information leaflet.BMJ. 2002; 324: 91-94
Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 02, 2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Published by Elsevier Inc.
