[Fracture of a pyrolytic carbon proximal interphalangeal prosthesis: clinical case]

Pyrolytic carbon prostheses are one of the options for the treatment of arthritis of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. Deficiency of the extensor mechanism, instability, dislocation and infection are the most frequent causes described for revision. We report the case of a female patient who underwent a PIP arthroplasty with a pyrolytic carbon implant of her right long finger; she suffered from an implant fracture only 11 months after surgery, a rare complication of this kind of implant; it makes think to fragility of this kind of implant.