Value of dynamic splinting after replacement of the metacarpophalangeal joint in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

In a retrospective study, we compared a group of 13 patients (41 joints) treated with dynamic splints after replacement of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints with a group of 9 patients (29 joints) not so treated. We failed to confirm our hypothesis, that the range of movement in the joints would be less in the group treated with dynamic splints. Furthermore, residual extension lag was significantly less (p = 0.002) in the treated group. We conclude that postoperative dynamic splinting seems to be useful after replacement of MCP joints with silastic implants.