A long-term review of the Harrison-Nicolle peg in digital arthrodesis

Fifty arthrodeses of the digital joints using the Harrison-Nicolle peg in 22 patients have been reviewed at a mean of 8.5 years after operation. 96% of these operations were judged to have been successful by our patients, most of whom were suffering from inflammatory joint disease. 66% went on to bony union, 30% to fibrous union and 4% to non-union. There was no difference in clinical outcome between the bony and fibrous union groups and only those with non-union were disappointed. All arthrodeses remained in the same angle of flexion as that in which they were originally fixed.