title: A randomized controlled trial of the effect of 2-step orthosis treatment for a mallet finger of tendinous origin.
abstract: METHODS
  A randomized clinical trial, with patients treated either by new 2-step orthosis or by the figure-eight-type orthosis with the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint extended.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report on our new orthosis and to evaluate the treatment efficacy of using a 2-step orthosis for the treatment of a mallet finger of tendinous origin compared with a conventional orthosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients were randomized into the 2-step or conventional orthosis groups. Primary outcomes were active DIP joint flexion and extensor lag, pain, and the Abouna-Brown criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2-step orthosis was associated with a smaller active DIP extensor lag, compared with the conventional orthosis (-7.5 ± 4.5° vs -16.4 ± 6.9°, P = .001), combined with a significantly higher Abouna-Brown criteria (χ2= 14.57, P = .01). No other between-group differences were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The therapeutic effectiveness of the 2-step orthosis, over a conventional orthosis, was supported by a large effect size of the treatment in improving residual active extensor lag at the DIP and overall Abouna-Brown criteria. Our study thus suggested that the initial immobilization involved in new 2-step orthosis and is thus a good immobilization technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ib.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Center, Fuchinobe General Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. Electronic address: kasuo_saitoh@yahoo.co.jp.
authors: Kazuo
authors: K
authors: Saito
authors: Kihara Orthopaedic Clinic, Saitama, Japan.
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Kihara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001915:Braces; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: 2-step orthosis; Hand therapy; Mallet finger of tendinous origin; Randomized controlled trial