Abbrevatio: a new operation for chronic mallet finger

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Hand Surgery
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:

• Chronic mallet finger, a persistent extensor tendon injury, often results in a characteristic drop-deformity of the distal interphalangeal (D.I.P.) joint.
• Existing treatments for chronic mallet finger include arthrodesis (fusion) or further conservative management, which may not be suitable for all patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a previously unpublished surgical method for correcting chronic mallet finger.
• To assess the functional outcomes and patient satisfaction with this surgical approach.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 42 patients with chronic mallet finger underwent surgical correction using a technique involving transection and resuture of the elongated extensor tendon.
• Postoperatively, the D.I.P. joint was immobilized in slight hyperextension for six weeks using K-wire transfixation.
• Forty patients were available for follow-up assessment of surgical outcomes.

Main Results:

• The surgical intervention resulted in an excellent outcome in 40% (16/40) of patients, with good outcomes in 20%, fair in 17.5%, and poor in 22.5%.
• The average extension defect at the D.I.P. joint significantly decreased from 38.2% preoperatively to 11.8% postoperatively.
• The procedure effectively corrected the drop-deformity in a majority of the studied patients.

Conclusions:

• This surgical method offers a viable alternative for managing chronic mallet finger, particularly for patients who wish to avoid joint fusion (arthrodesis) or further non-operative treatments.
• The technique demonstrates potential for restoring finger function and improving cosmetic appearance in cases of persistent mallet deformity.