Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Jul-Sep;28(3):237-45; quiz 246.
doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2015.03.001. Epub 2015 Mar 10.

Conservative treatment of mallet finger: A systematic review

Kristin Valdes  1 , Nancy Naughton  2 , Lori Algar  3
Affiliations

Conservative treatment of mallet finger: A systematic review

Kristin Valdes et al. J Hand Ther. 2015 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine if there is a superior orthosis and wearing regimen for the conservative treatment of mallet finger injuries. The secondary purpose is to examine the current evidence to evaluate if a night orthosis is necessary following the initial immobilization phase.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the search terms mallet finger, splint, orthosis, and conservative treatment.

Results: Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the systematic review. In all 4 RCTs mallet fingers were immobilized continuously for 6 weeks in acute injuries and 8 weeks for chronic injuries.

Conclusions: Two of the three studies found a large effect size for orthotic intervention ranging from 2.17 to 12.12. Increased edema and age and decreased patient adherence seem to negatively influence DIP extension gains. Recommended immobilization duration is between 6 to 8 weeks and with additional weeks of immobilization in cases of persistent lags.

Level of evidence: 1a.

Keywords: Conservative treatment; Extensor tendon; Mallet finger; Orthosis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types