Mallet splints

SJH Emergency Medicine
NHS Lothian

The mallet splint is used for treating a mallet finger. A mallet finger is the loss of the extensor mechanism at the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ): this can be due to bony injury or tendon injury.

How to apply

The mallet splint should fit snugly; if in between sizes, refer to hand therapists to fashion custom made splint in clinic. Refer to Hand Clinic early if there is any doubt about adequacy of fitting.

Mallet splint material - tape, splint, gauzeImmobilise DIPJ only, do not cover the PIPJ or MCPJ with splint or tape. You might need to trim the splint to shorten it if covers the PIPJ. Finger joints can become stiff if immobilised so please avoid splinting the PIPJ or MCPJ unnecessarily.

Proper application of mallet splint - from side, straight at PIPJ Proper application of mallet splint - from side, bent at PIPJ

Proper application of the mallet splint

Please make sure you do not trim the splint too short that it doesn't cover the DIPJ and is therefore functionally useless!

Cut too short - from top Cut too short - from side

Don't do this with the splint - cut too short

Apply a small piece of gauze or stockinette to protect the skin underneath the splint from sweat and friction (see pictures).

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 12/08/2024

Next review date: 12/08/2026

Author(s): Reem Al Soufi, Deepankar Datta.

Reviewer name(s): Deepankar Datta, Reem Al Soufi.

References
  1. Alla SR, Deal ND, Dempsey IJ. Current concepts: mallet finger. Hand (N Y). 2014 Jun;9(2):138-44. doi: 10.1007/s11552-014-9609-y. PMID: 24839413; PMCID: PMC4022957.
  2. Weerakkody Y, Yap J, Ranchod A, et al. Mallet finger. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 09 Jul 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-17538
Evidence method

Information cited from PubMed sources. Information on how to apply written and circulated by RAS.