Tenodermodesis for established mallet finger deformity

Sixteen patients with established mallet finger deformity as a result of extensor tendon injury were treated by tenodermodesis and fixation of the distal interphalangeal joint with a Kirshner wire. The patients were followed for a mean of 36 months (range 10-60). The results were excellent in eight patients, good in six, and fair in two. The mean extension lag was decreased from 50 degrees (range 30-70) to 9 degrees (range 0-30), but not at the expense of impaired flexion capacity. All patients were pleased with their resultant function and cosmesis. No complications were encountered. We recommend the operation for passively correctable deformities with suitable joints; it is easy to do and yields consistently successful results.