Through dissection of 12 fresh finger specimens, the anatomy of the distal part of dorsal aponeurosis and its function was closely observed. A direct reparative procedure of the terminal tendon by using tendon flap graft was deseribed for the treatment of chronic mallet finger deformity. Correction of deformity, restoration of active motion of DIP and avoidance of residual pain were observed in three clinical cases.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of one-stage closed reduction and elastic compression fixation with double Kirschner wires for Wehbe-Schneider types ⅠB and ⅡB bony mallet fingers. Methods Between May 2017 and June 2020, 21 patients with Wehbe-Schneider type ⅠB and ⅡB bony mallet fingers were treated with one-stage closed reduction and elastic compression fixation using double Kirschner wires. There were 15 males and 6 females with an average age of 39.2 years (range, 19-62 years). The causes of injury were sports injury in 9 cases, puncture injury in 7 cases, and sprain in 5 cases. The time from injury to admission was 5-72 hours (mean, 21.0 hours). There were 2 cases of index finger injury, 8 cases of middle finger injury, 9 cases of ring finger injury, and 2 cases of little finger injury. The angle of active dorsiflexion loss of distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) was (40.04±4.02)°. According to the Wehbe-Schneider classification standard, there were 10 cases of typeⅠB and 11 cases of type ⅡB. The Kirschner wire was removed at 6 weeks after operation when X-ray film reexamination showed bony union of the avulsion fracture, and the functional exercise of the affected finger was started. Results The operation time was 35-55 minutes (mean, 43.9 minutes). The length of hospital stay was 2-5 days (mean, 3.4 days). No postoperative complications occurred. All patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 8.8 months). X-ray films reexamination showed that all avulsion fractures achieved bony union after 4-6 weeks (mean, 5.3 weeks). Kirschner wire was removed at 6 weeks after operation. After Kirschner removal, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score of pain during active flexion of the DIPJ was 1-3 (mean, 1.6); the VAS score of pain was 2-5 (mean, 3.1) when the DIPJ was passively flexed to the maximum range of motion. The angle of active dorsiflexion loss of affected finger was (2.14±2.54)°, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative angle (t=52.186, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the active flexion angle between the affected finger (79.52±6.31)° and the corresponding healthy finger (81.90±5.36)° (t=1.319, P=0.195). At 6 months after operation, according to Crawford functional evaluation criteria, the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 11 cases, good in 9, and fair in 1, with an excellent and good rate of 95.24%. Conclusion For Wehbe-Schneider typesⅠB and ⅡB bony mallet fingers, one-stage closed reduction and elastic compression fixation with double Kirschner wires can effectively correct the deformity and has the advantages of simple surgery, no incision, and no influence on the appearance of the affected finger.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of open reduction and hook plate fixation versus closed indirect reduction and dorsal extension blocking Kirschner wire fixation for bony mallet fingers. Methods The clinical data of 68 patients with bony mallet finger who admitted between May 2019 and June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 33 cases were in the open group (treated with open reduction and hook plate fixation) and 35 cases were in the closed group (treated with closed indirect reduction and dorsal extension blocking Kirschner wire fixation). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, the affected side, the affected finger, cause of injury, time from injury to operation, and Wehbé-Schneider classification (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, fracture healing time, time of returning to work, and postoperative complications were recorded and compared between the two groups. At 12 months after operation, visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to assess the pain of the injured finger, active flexion range of motion and extension deficit of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) were measured by goniometer, and the effectiveness was assessed by Crawford criteria. Results All patients in the two groups were followed up 12-26 months, with an average of 15 months. There was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the closed group and the open group (P>0.05). The operation time in the closed group was shorter than that in the open group, and the intraoperative fluoroscopy times, the fracture healing time, and the time of returning to work in the closed group were more than those in the open group, and the differences were significant (P<0.05). In the closed group, there were 5 cases of pinning tract infection and 3 cases of small area pressure ulcer skin necrosis on the dorsal side of the finger, which were cured after intensive nursing and dressing change. Local nail depression deformity occurred in 7 cases in the open group, and the deformity disappeared after removal of plate. The incisions of the other patients healed uneventfully without complications such as infection, skin necrosis, exposure of the internal fixation, or nail deformity. There was no significant difference in the incidence of skin necrosis between the two groups (P>0.05), but the differences in the incidence of infection and nail deformity between the two groups were significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS score, DIP active flexion range of motion, DIP extension deficiency, or Crawford criteria evaluation between the two groups at 12 months after operation (P>0.05). At last follow-up, there was no DIP osteoarthritis and joint degeneration in both groups. Conclusion Open reduction and hook plate fixation versus closed indirect reduction and dorsal extension blocking Kirschner wire fixation have their own advantages and disadvantages, but both of them have good results in the treatment of bony mallet fingers. Open reduction and hook plate fixation is recommended for young patients with bony mallet fingers who are eager to return to work.
Since 1989, 17 cases ( 18 fingers) of mallet finger underwent surgical repair of the extensor tendons of the fingers combined with postoperative perpendicular pin transfixion. The follow-up was through 3 to 8 months. The results were 13 satisfactory, 4 improved and one failure. The method of pin transfixion was introduced in detail, and the classification of mallet fingers and the principles of treatment were discussed in detail, and the classification of mallet fingers and the principles of treatment were discussed.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of the terminal extensor tendon reconstrution by palmaris longus tendon graft for the treatment of old mallet finger deformity. Methods Between February 2009 and February 2011, 32 patients with old mallet finger deformity were treated with palmaris longus tendon graft. There were 28 males and 4 females with an average age of 32.5 years (range, 22-58 years). The injury causes included sports injury in 26 cases and punctured injury in 6 cases. The index finger was involved in 8 cases, the middle finger in 3 cases, the ring finger in 16 cases, and the little finger in 5 cases. According to the Rockwell’s classification, all patients were classified as type I. The time from injury to operation was 4-16 weeks (mean, 6 weeks). Results Primary healing was obtained in all incisions; no necrosis, infection, or nail bed injury occurred. All patients were followed up 12-20 months (mean, 14 months). The patients had no pain or paresthesia of volar finger. According to Patel’s functional assessment system, the results were excellent in 8 cases, good in 21 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case at last follow-up, with an excellent and good rate of 90.6%. Conclusion Reconstruction of the terminal extensor tendon by palmaris longus tendon graft is a reliable method to treat old mallet finger deformity.
ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness between micro-anchor repair and modified pull-out suture in the treatment of mallet fingers. MethodsBetween June 2010 and March 2011, 33 patients with mallet fingers were treated by micro-anchor repair method (n=18, group A) and by modified pull-out suture method in which the broken tendons were sutured with double metal needle Bunnell’s suture and a knot was tied palmarly (n=15, group B). There was no significant difference in age, gender, and disease duration between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). ResultsThe operation time was (62.5 ± 3.1) minutes in group A and (65.0 ± 4.6) minutes in group B, showing no significant difference (t=1.85, P=0.07). The treatment expense in group A [(8 566.2 ± 135.0) yuan] was significantly higher than that in group B [(5 297.0 ± 183.5) yuan] (t=58.92, P=0.00). Incision infection occurred in 2 cases of group A and 1 case of group B; the other patients obtained healing of incision by first intention. Relapsed mallet finger was observed in 1 case of group B. All patients in 2 groups were followed up 12-21 months. According to the Crawford functional assessment system, the results were excellent in 5 cases, good in 10 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case at the last follow-up with an excellent and good rate of 83.3% in group A; the results were excellent in 4 cases, good in 9 cases, fair in 1 case, and poor in 1 case with an excellent and good rate of 86.7% in group B. There was no significant difference in the excellent and good rate between 2 groups (χ2=0.23, P=0.97). ConclusionBoth micro-anchor repair and modified pull-out suture are simple and effective methods in the treatment of mallet finger. But compared with micro-anchor repair, pull-out suture has lower expense.
Objective To compare differences in the cl inical outcomes between percutaneous pinning with plaster spl int and open reduction and pull ing out wire in the treatment of mallet fingers. Methods From December 2002 to September 2007, 72 patients with mallet fingers were treated. They were divided into two groups: group A and group B. In group A, 38 patients were treated by open reduction and pull ing out wire, 34 males and 4 females, aged (26.0 ± 8.5) years. Among them, 2 patients were injured in the index finger, 11 in the middle finger, 18 in the ring finger and 7 in the l ittle finger. Thirtythreepatients suffered from sports injuries, 5 from fall ing wounds. The average time between the injury and the surgery was(6.1 ± 3.1) days. In group B, 34 patients were treated by percutaneous pinning with plaster spl int, 26 males and 8 females, aged (28.1 ± 10.7) years. Among them, 1 patient was injured in the index finger, 9 in the middle finger, 15 in the ring finger and 9 in the l ittle finger. Thirty-one patients suffered from sports injuries, 3 from fall ing wounds. The average time between the injury and the surgery was (6.3 ± 3.6) days. All the fingers had typical mallet malformation, and X-ray films showed avulsed fractures of distal-segment phalanxes at the dorsal basilar part. Results The operation time was (61.8 ± 12.8) minutes in group A and (7.0 ± 2.6) minutes in group B. All patients in both groups were followed up for 6-24 months (11.9 months on average in group A and 13.2 months in group B). In group A, apart from 3 patients who had flap necrosis and infection, all the other patients obtained heal ing by first intention. One patient had palmar skin ulcer at 6 days after the operation and healed after proper treatment. Thirty-six patients gained bone union at (47.6 ± 8.7) days postoperatively and 2 patients had pseudarthrosis, which improved after reconstruction of the extensor tendon attachment point. According to the total active movement (TAM) functional assessment system, 10 cases were e cellent, 18 good, 8 fair and 2 poor, with the choiceness rate of 73.7%. In group B, all incisions obtained heal ing by first intention without pin-track infection, flap necrosis and migration of the pins and gained bone union at (27.7 ± 3.9) days after the operation. According to the TAM functional assessment system, 19 cases were excellent, 13 good and 2 fair, with the choiceness rate of 94.1%. There were significant differences between the two groups in operation time, compl ications, heal ing time and choiceness rate (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Percutaneous pinning with plaster spl int is simple in operation and has smaller incisions and fewer compl ications compared with open reduction and pull ing out wire, andproves to be a useful way in the treatment of mallet fingers.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of modified Ishiguro technique with strengthening pressure in the treatment of bony mallet finger by comparing with the traditional Ishiguro technique. Methods Between May 2013 and May 2015, 31 cases of bony mallet finger were treated with traditional Ishiguro technique in 16 cases (control group) and with modified Ishiguro technique in 15 cases (improved group, the two Kirschner wires were bound, which were used to fix the distal interphalangeal joint and blocking avulsion fracture block in the classical Ishiguro technique, and play a continuous elastic compression). Difference was not significant in gender, age, cause of injury, injury finger, and the time from injury to operation between 2 groups (P > 0.05). Results The wound healing was delayed in 2 cases of the control group and 1 case of the improved group, and the other patients obtained healing by first intension. The follow-up time was 8-23 months (mean, 11 months) in the improved group and was 9-24 months (mean, 12 months) in the control group. Bending deformation of the Kirschner wire occurred in 2 cases of the control group, obvious separation was found between fracture fragment and the distal phalanx; after manual reduction, brace was used to fix, and distal interphalangeal arthritis occurred during follow-up. The fracture healing time was (6.8±0.8) weeks in the control group, and was (5.7±1.5) weeks in the improved group. There was significant difference in the healing time between 2 groups (t=-2.439, P=0.021). At last follow-up, according to Crawford criteria, the results were excellent in 9 cases, good in 4 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case with an excellent and good rate of 81.25% in the control group; the results were excellent in 10 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 2 case with an excellent and good rate of 86.67% in the improved group. There was no significant difference in excellent and good rate between 2 groups (Z=-0.636, P=0.525). Conclusion Compared with traditional Ishiguro technique, the modified Ishiguro technique with strengthening pressure in treatment of bony mallet finger can facilitate the fracture healing, reduce Kirschner wire loosening and deformation, and decrease the rates of operation failure and complications.
Objective To evaluate the clinical results of mallet finger accompanied by avulsional fracture treated with Ishiguro method. Methods Twenty-seven patients suffering from mallet finger accompanied by avulsional fracture weretreated with Ishiguro method or its modified method. During the operation, a blocking pin was inserted percutaneously with DIP flexed, then the DIP was fixed at a position of full extension with another Kirschner wire. When the fracture fragment was big with rotation displacement, a third Kirschner wire could be used to correct the displacement and fix fracture. Results The patients were followed up 2 months to 6 years and 6 months with an average of 9.3 months postoperatively. Andthe clinical results were evaluated with the modified Crawford’s criteria, including DIP pain, range of motion and pinch power. The rate of bone union was 100%. The results were excellent in 7 patients, good in 11 patients, moderate in 8 patients and poor in 1 patient. After operation, the range of flexion was 54.19°±14.45° , while the range of extension was －4.96°±9.27°. The X-ray sign of slight osteoarthritis could be seen in one patient. [WTHZ]Conclusion Ishiguro method is simple, effective and less invasive. It is suitable for treatment of mallet finger accompanied by avulsional fracture.