Delayed Extension Block Pinning in 27 Patients With Mallet Fracture

Background: Untreated bony mallet fingers can cause an array of problems; therefore, adequate treatment is essential. The primary aim of this study was to determine the patient-reported functional outcome of delayed surgical intervention of bony mallet fingers. The secondary aim was to determine the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hand (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2021-01, Vol.16 (1), p.61-66
Main Authors: Kootstra, Thomas J. M., Keizer, Jort, van Heijl, Mark, Ferree, Steven, Houwert, Marijn, van der Velde, Detlef
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Finger Joint
Fracture Fixation, Internal
Fractures, Bone
Humans
Range of Motion, Articular
Retrospective Studies
Surgery
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Summary:Background: Untreated bony mallet fingers can cause an array of problems; therefore, adequate treatment is essential. The primary aim of this study was to determine the patient-reported functional outcome of delayed surgical intervention of bony mallet fingers. The secondary aim was to determine the complication rate of delayed surgical intervention. Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, all consecutive patients treated between 2010 and 2016 at our level 2 regional teaching hospital were included. Inclusion criterion was a bony mallet finger injury (excluding the thumb), presenting >21 days after injury, treated with extension block pinning. Indications for surgery were >2 mm fragment displacement or volar subluxation of the distal interphalangeal joint. Six to 82 months postoperatively, patients completed the Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) by phone. Complications were extracted by chart review. Results: Twenty-seven patients were included, and all completed the PRWHE. Median time to surgery was 35 days (interquartile range [IQR] = 29-42; range = 22-61). Reasons for delay in surgical treatment were patient/physician delay in 24 cases and failed conservative treatment in 3 cases. The median PRWHE score was 0 (IQR = 0-5; range = 0-22.5). After retrospective assessment of the outpatient charts, no early symptoms of malunion or nonunion were found. One patient had a loss of Kirschner-wire fixation, which was corrected. Three patients had an infection that required antibiotic treatment. Conclusions: Delayed surgical management of bony mallet fingers demonstrated adequate functional outcome with minimal complications when compared with prior literature.
ISSN:1558-9447
1558-9455
DOI:10.1177/1558944719840749