Comparison effectiveness of custom-made versus conventional aluminum splint for distal phalange injury.

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.