Purpose
We suggest a method to achieve anatomical reduction in mallet finger fractures that
are insufficiently treated by the 2–extension block wire technique.
Methods
We performed a retrospective review of 18 patients who were found to have an irreducible
dorsal fragment and distal interphalangeal joint incongruence owing to rotation of
the dorsal fragment in the sagittal plane. In these cases, we additionally employed
a dorsal counterforce technique to supplement the 2–extension block technique. An
additional K-wire was used to apply counterforce against the distal part of the dorsal
fragment and control rotation in the sagittal plane.
Results
All 18 fractures united. Congruent joint surfaces and anatomical reduction were seen
in all cases. The mean active flexion of the distal interphalangeal joints was 83.8°
(range, 79°–88°) and the mean extension loss was 0.4° (range, 0°–4°).
Conclusions
We believe that the dorsal counterforce technique effectively supplements the 2–extension
block K-wire technique and aids control of dorsal fragment rotation in the sagittal
plane.
Type of study/level of evidence
Therapeutic IV.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 06, 2018
Accepted:
September 26,
2018
Received:
March 25,
2018
Footnotes
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.
