Extension block pinning using a small external fixator for mallet finger fractures

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Hand surgery
• Trauma surgery

Background:

• Bony mallet finger injuries often present challenges in surgical reduction and fixation.
• Maintaining fragment stability during reduction is crucial for successful outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the surgical outcomes of a modified extension blocking technique with external fixation for bony mallet fingers.
• To assess the efficacy of a novel external fixator in preventing fragment displacement.

Main Methods:

• Development of an external fixator with additional pins to prevent dorsal fragment rotation during reduction.
• Surgical treatment of 12 consecutive patients with mallet finger fractures using the modified technique.
• Review of patient data including age, fracture union time, range of motion, and functional outcomes.

Main Results:

• Controlled rotation of the fractured fragment during reduction in all patients.
• Average fracture union achieved at 5 weeks post-surgery.
• Excellent functional outcomes with an average extension lag of 2° and active flexion of 74°.
• High patient satisfaction with no reported pain at final follow-up.

Conclusions:

• The modified extension block method effectively prevents dorsal fragment rotation during surgical reduction of bony mallet fingers.
• This technique leads to early fracture union and excellent functional recovery.