title: The Kleinert modified dorsal finger splint for mallet finger fracture.
abstract: Injuries to the hand and digits are commonly seen in the emergency department. Lacerations, contusions, puncture wounds, and fractures comprise the bulk of these injuries. A fracture to the dorsum of the distal phalanx can result in a mallet finger deformity. These fractures must be accurately diagnosed with the proper initial treatment begun. There is some disagreement over the best treatment approach and multiple different splints have been described in the literature. Conservative treatment with a finger splint is most commonly effective. We recommend a modified dorsal finger splint for these injuries. We describe a splint to properly treat the fracture, prevent complications, maximize patient comfort during rehabilitation, and prevent mallet finger deformity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40202, USA. rhart@cmki.org
authors.forename: Raymond G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Harold E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kleinert
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D013165:Splints