Abstract
Background and objective: Mallet finger is a deformity caused by injury to the extensor mechanism of the distal phalanx. Rehabilitation is initial choice for the treatment of mallet finger in the treatment of extension lag. The aim of this study was to compare the three-point pressure splint designed by the researchers and aluminum splint routinely used for mallet finger treatment, while performing activities of daily living (ADL).
Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed.  The participants were 20 patients with mallet finger, who were, on average, 44 years of age. 3-point pressure splints designed by the researchers and aluminum splint common in the treatment of mallet finger were placed on patients with mallet fingers randomly assigned to control and treatment groups. The changes in the extension of the deficit fingers in the first, third and sixth week after placement were compared for activities of daily living. QUICK DASH test was used for evaluation of the results.
Results: The results showed a significant difference between the treatment and control groups in terms of the performance of activities of daily living in the third week (t=-3.824, p<0.001) in terms of extension lag, though there were no significant differences between the two groups in the first week (t=-1.153, p>0.280). After six weeks of replacement a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups indicating the alleviation of the deformity in the treatment group (t=-2.762, p=0.006).
Conclusion: The results showed that three point pressure splint designed by the researchers had a greater impact on reducing extension lag in activities of daily living than aluminum splint did.