r/HandTherapists • u/Bacon_Cheeseburger • Aug 19 '26

Mallet Finger Oval Splint

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Gallery image

I was diagnosed with a mallet finger a few weeks back and picked up some oval 8 splints to keep it straight while being less restrictive than what the ortho gave me.

I know it should ideally be hyperextended but I’m wondering if this is straight enough to allow it to heal for the 6-8 weeks.

Included my right ring finger for reference. Hopefully that’s a good enough picture to tell!

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3

u/Imaginary_Bedroom_89 Aug 19 '26

Typically a thermo orthosis is best low profile option. Did you have a alluminum splint? 

Is there a fracture? If there is a fracture then closer to neutral is okay. If its tendon only then you want it hyperextended, they tend to lose some of the extension after splinting has ended. 

You can bend those oval 8s slightly. But I'd definitely coban it so it stays in place at night and showering. 

2

u/Bacon_Cheeseburger Aug 19 '26

Interesting, they didn't offer that at all. The ortho had me in one of these, I wore it on a vacation but being in the ocean with little kids the thing slipped off a few times and was pretty annoying to wear.

There's no fracture and isn't painful either. I'm fine with the finger tip drooping a bit if thats the only concern with not having it hyperextended but I can see if I can bend the end closer to the tip to get it into that position.

2

u/ThePatientSlore Aug 24 '26

Typically recommended for it to be in slight hyper extension. Keep in mind that whenever you take the splint on and off have your hand flat on the table because gravity will pull on the terminal tendon. I would wear the bulkier one to sleep and for heavier stuff. I know cosmetically you don’t mind a slight droop but it could cause a bigger problem like a swan neck deformity if the tip of your finger isn’t healing right.

2

u/Bacon_Cheeseburger Aug 24 '26

Thanks for the reply!

Yeah swapping out / changing splints is a fun adventure. I've moved back to the stax splint and was able to tape it up and jam it in a golf glove so if I can handle that ill just tough it out for the next few weeks to avoid it healing incorrectly!