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Published on: January 24, 2018
Distal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis for degenerative osteoarthritis with compression screw: results in 102
Federico Villani1, Bastian Uribe-Echevarria, Luca Vaienti
1U. O. Chirurgia Plastica-IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Piazza E. Malan, 20097 San Donato Milanese, Italy. federico.villani@email.it
Purpose:
To assess objective and subjective outcomes of distal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis with a headless compression screw for degenerative osteoarthritis.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed 102 cases of distal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis performed with headless compression screws on 59 patients. We included only primary cases of degenerative osteoarthritis with a minimum follow-up of 7 months. We identified appropriate bone coaptation and hardware positioning on postoperative radiographs in all digits. The mean follow-up period was 26 months (range, 7-67 mo).
Results:
In 89 of 102 cases, patients were fully satisfied; in 9 cases, they were satisfied. Four complications occurred: 2 cases of prominent hardware, 1 complex regional pain syndrome type 1, and 1 symptomatic bony callus on the fused joint. Secondary surgery was required in each of these 4 cases. No nonunion, malunion, nail dystrophy, pseudarthrosis, or infection occurred. All arthrodeses healed.
Conclusions:
Distal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis with headless compression screws was shown to be safe and effective in cases of degenerative osteoarthritis, with a low complication rate.