{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,20]],"date-time":"2026-03-20T00:54:30Z","timestamp":1773968070379,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,29]],"date-time":"2024-03-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1711670400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Ministry of Science and Technology","award":["NSTC112-2221-E-A49-017-MY3"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NSTC112-2221-E-A49-017-MY3"]}]},{"name":"Ministry of Science and Technology","award":["V112C-020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["V112C-020"]}]},{"name":"Taipei Veterans General Hospitals","award":["NSTC112-2221-E-A49-017-MY3"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NSTC112-2221-E-A49-017-MY3"]}]},{"name":"Taipei Veterans General Hospitals","award":["V112C-020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["V112C-020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Bioengineering"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Finger extension stiffness is a common post-traumatic complication that results in the hand\u2019s functional impairment. In clinical practice, a dynamic splint enables the patient to stretch the affected finger independently. However, current dynamic splints have drawbacks, such as limited stretching efficacy, and interfere with the hand\u2019s functional activities. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a dynamic finger flexion orthosis capable of stretching each finger joint using additive manufacturing (AM) technology, thereby enabling hand functional activity, and analyze the clinical improvement in the range of motion (ROM). One subject with a hand fracture was recruited while undergoing a 7-week home-based rehabilitation program for the orthosis. The outcome measurements included the total active motion (TAM), the tip-to-finger distance (TPD), and the score on the Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. The results show that the TAM of the participant\u2019s fingers increased by 72.7 degrees on average, the TPD decreased by 3.5 cm on average, and the DASH score decreased to 9.5 points. The 7-week home-based rehabilitation program for the orthosis resulted in a 53.6% increase in the TAM on average. The developed orthosis improved hand function and enabled a more complete ROM in finger flexion.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bioengineering11040339","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,31]],"date-time":"2024-03-31T13:39:37Z","timestamp":1711892377000},"page":"339","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Research and Development of a 3D-Printed Dynamic Finger Flexion Orthosis for Finger Extension Stiffness\u2014A Preliminary Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"June-Tzu","family":"Yu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yi-Chao","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan"},{"name":"Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3351-7279","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chen-Sheng","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"841","DOI":"10.1097\/01.ta.0000214887.31745.c4","article-title":"Complications after plate fixation of phalangeal fractures","volume":"60","author":"Kurzen","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. 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