Comparison Effectiveness of Custom-Made Versus Conventional Aluminum Splint for Distal Phalange Injury
Chatupon Chotigavanichaya MD*, Roongsak Limthongthang MD*, Thanawat Pimonsiripol MD*, Thossart Harnroongroj MD*, Panupan Songcharoen MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Finger splint is a simple and common method for finger immobilization. The flexible aluminum foam-padded
splint is a convenient off-the-shelf inexpensive splint. But there’re some studies favor expensively custom-made thermoplastic
splint due to its less likely result in treatment failure. Therefore the authors have modified the conventional aluminum finger
splint in the foam-padded part to improve the fitting and compliance of the patients.
Objective : To compare the fitting of custom-made aluminum finger splint with conventional aluminum finger splint.
Material and Method: Sixty volunteers were randomized to apply 30 conventional or custom-made aluminum splints on 4th
digit in non dominated hand for one week. The fitting of each splint was measured by displacement of the splint between initial
placement and one week later. Patient satisfaction and pain was measured by visual analog score (VAS).
Results : The slip and deviation in custom-made group were less than the conventional group significantly (mean of slip 0.86
mm vs. 2.23 mm, p < 0.001, mean of deviation 1.1 degrees vs. 2.23 degrees, p < 0.001) but the longitudinal migration was
not significantly difference between both groups (mean 1.6 mm in custom-made group vs. 1.46 mm in conventional group, p
= 0.67). The patient satisfaction demonstrated no significant difference between both groups (mean VAS 7.76 in custom-made
group vs. 7.3 in conventional group, p = 0.31). Two patients terminated from the present study before one week in custom-
made group and one patient in the conventional group (6.67% vs. 3.33%, p = 0.554).
Conclusion : The custom-made aluminum finger splint can improve the fitting to the finger pulp. However, patient satisfaction
and compliance are not significantly different between both groups.
Keywords : Custom-made aluminum finger splint, Randomized controlled trial, Mallet finger, Fingertip injury
