3-Point Products' Blog

The primary cause of Ulnar Deviation of the Metacarpal Phalangeal joints (MP) of the fingers, a chronic, irreversible condition, is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The MP joints are a primary site of rheumatoid deformities due to several anatomical and bio mechanical factors. Chief among the factors are:

• The shape of the metacarpal head allows for a certain degree of motion in an ulnar direction which contributes to the hands ability to create a strong grip

The Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) is a group of ligaments and cartilage on the ulnar side of the hand. The TFCC ligaments attach the cartilage to the small wrist bones which also suspend the ends of the two forearm bones, the ulna and the radius.

You can’t open up a professional journal without seeing clinical evidence of the effects of inflammation on the human body:

• Brain inflammation has been linked to clinical depression
• New evidence links inflammation with hypertension
• Inflammation resulting from obesity is likely the root cause of diabetes

Oval-8 Finger Splints provide a highly effective finger orthosis that stabilizes or limits finger joint motion to treat several conditions with a simple turn of the splint. The Oval-8 is uncomplicated, inexpensive and often provides immediate relief for your patients. Oval-8's come in a variety of sizes, and may be worn differently, to ease pain and correct problems associated with many conditions including, but not limited to:

Patients with de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis may complain of a swollen thumb and radial-sided wrist pain. The pain may become worse, and may radiate up the thumb or forearm, during activities that require abduction or flexion of the thumb, including playing tennis or golf, knitting, gardening, painting, and picking up a baby.

In most cases, de Quervain’s is caused by overuse or repetitive stress, although the condition may develop for unknown reasons.

Problem

Your patient caught the tip of his finger in a drawer and now his fingertip is drooping because the extensor tendon has stretched, pulled away, or torn. The finger can be pushed into extension, but cannot stay straight without support. Mallet Finger, also called Baseball Finger, affects a small area but can become a big problem if left untreated.     

Problem

Hypermobility, hypereleasticity, fragile skin, and poor healing are the hallmark of a rare group of genetic disorders collectively called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). There are six major forms of EDS, all of which affect the joints and skin. The most common form of EDS is the hypermobility type (previously called Type III). These patients may have been incorrectly deemed “double-jointed;” however, the condition is far from benign as patients are plagued by excessive joint mobility, instability and dislocation, and chronic pain.

To date, there is no specific gene test for the hypermobility type (as there is for type 1 or Classical EDS). There is no cure for EDS but it can be managed with lifestyle changes, physical and occupational therapy, NSAIDs, and splinting.

Buddy taping is an easy effective treatment for your patient’s stubbed, jammed, hyperextended, hyperflexed, hyperabducted, broken, or “turfed” toe? Proper buddy taping – taping the healthy toe next to the injured toe and taping the two together- helps prevent movement of the injured toe during the healing stage of rehabilitation.

Recently, you may have been hearing about a new test for de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis. This test applies stress to the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendons without stressing the thumb and wrist joints.

Along with this potential new testing standard for de Quervain’s, the terminology used to describe the condition is also being reconsidered.

In the past, tendinitis and tenosynovitis were the general terms used to describe painful tendon conditions thought to be due to inflammation. However, attention is now being given to a more precise descriptive term for degradation of the tendon as opposed to inflammation of the tendon or surrounding soft tissue. Recent literature points to the terms tendinopathy and tendinosis to differentiate tendon injuries. 

At first glance, diagnosing Swan Neck Deformity seems like a "no brainer". You have visual confirmation of hyperextension of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint and flexion of the distal interphalangeal (DIP). The finger is contorted into the shape of a swan neck. And, your patient has Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

Yes. Swan Neck Deformity does show up in about half of all RA patients; but, there are a surprising number of other causes, including Cerebral Palsy, Lupus, Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Marfans, post-traumatic flexor tendon ruptures and ischemic injuries.