Finger splints are sometimes used to hold a finger in place to keep it from moving, such as when a finger is sprained or broken. They can also be used to increase the range of motion of a finger that has contracted into a bent position and needs constant stretching. These devices can range from the simple homemade buddy splint to adjustable dynamic splints.
Buddy Splints
A buddy splint is just two adjoining fingers taped together--like buddies. This basic splinting technique is commonly used when a finger ligament is strained, such as happens when the finger is jammed or sometimes after a joint dislocation. The fingers should be taped at a point above and a point below the injured joint. For a sprained joint on the ring finger, the little finger should act as the "buddy," as it will otherwise be exposed and vulnerable to injury, according to a March 2006 article in the "American Family Physician" journal. Buddy splinting should not be used if the joint is unstable or the finger is fractured.
Static Splints
Static splints are designed to hold a joint in a specified position, whether completely straight or slightly bent. Some basic metal and foam static splints can be purchased over the counter at drug stores. Static splints can also be custom made from moldable plastics or other casting material. These splints are used for trigger fingers, to immobilize a fracture or for certain types of tendon damage.
Stack Splints
These specialized preformed splints are frequently used to treat mallet finger, a condition in which the joint closest to the tip of the finger, called the distal interphalangeal joint, or DIP, is injured and can't straighten by itself. Stack splints come in various sizes; they are designed to fit over the end of the finger to just past the DIP joint, thus preventing that joint from bending, while still allowing the joint at the midpoint of the finger, called the proximal interphalangeal joint, or PIP, to bend. Stack splints are made of plastic, often with holes in them to allow for air flow.
Dynamic Splints
These complex splints are made from combinations of plastic, foam and metal. They are designed to provide a prolonged stretch for a joint that is stiff and not amenable to other stretching programs. Dynamic splints feature various spring-loaded systems that are adjustable to provide the desired degree of movement of the joint. Dynamic splints are often worn at night or when the wearer is resting and not involved in other activities.
References
- "American Family Physician"; Acute Finger Injuries: Part I. Tendons and Ligaments; Jeffrey C. Leggit et al.; March 1, 2006
- "American Family Physician"; Acute Finger Injuries: Part II. Fractures, Dislocations, and Thumb Injuries; Jeffrey C. Leggit et al., March 1, 2006
- Madigan Army Medical Center: Mallet Finger
- Leeder Group.com: Dynamic Splints-Splinting
