Protective suture technique in chronic tendinous mallet finger deformities

Adherence to splint use presents a significant challenge in the management of tendinous mallet finger injuries. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the protective suture technique in improving treatment adherence and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic mallet finger deformities. A total of 48 patients treated between November 2022 and September 2023 were included in this study. The primary outcome measures included extensor lag before and after the procedure, average flexion deficit, mean Brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) score, and Crawford criteria. The patients were categorised into subacute and chronic groups. The mean pre-procedure extensor lag was 52.08°, which improved to 3.6° post-procedure. The mean flexion deficit was 2.95°. The mean Brief MHQ score was 96.83. According to the Crawford criteria, 30 patients achieved excellent outcomes. These findings suggest that this technique enhances treatment success and yields favourable functional outcomes, particularly in patients with compliance issues with splint therapy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.