Successful Finger Pulley Injury (A2 Pulley Sprain or Climber’s Finger) Treatment with a S.P.Ort
Acute A2 Pulley Tear
While working on a climbing project, a climber heard a pop in his finger and felt pain. These ultrasounds show what we as physicians measure to gauge pulley tears: the TPD or Tendon to Phalanx (Bone) Distance. In uninjured climber’s fingers it is around 0.1-0.15cm. In this climber, in the first photo his TPD is 0.39cm and when stressed the TPD measures 0.42cm. This is consistent with a complete A2 pulley injury, which would be classified as a Grade III sprain.
Treatment of a finger pulley injury like this with extensive rest, H-taping, circumferential taping, buddy taping or even immobilization will not decrease the TPD as these interventions do nothing to reduce the tendon and pulley deformity. Use of the S.P.Ort however, does reduce the deformity and reduces the TPD! Pulleys heal in a more normal shape and allow for more normal finger function.
After S.P.Ort Treatment
In the pictures below, you can see after 8 weeks of treatment with the S.P.Ort, following the enclosed instructions, this climber was psyched as his finger no longer hurt and the TPD decreased both at rest and when stressed, to 0.23cm and 0.30cm respectively. This is an improvement of 56% back to a normal pulley measurement, compared to an improperly treated finger pulley injury which would not change at all. This decreased TPD means a tighter pulley and more normal tendon function in the future.
S.P.Ort Research
Our research on the S.P.Ort was presented as an Oral Presentation at the annual American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS), January 30 - February 2, 2019.
The paper was published by the University of Washington School of Medicine.
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To view the manuscript, click here.