Article
Comparison of extension splint and temporary pinning for acute tendon mallet injury
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Published: | February 6, 2020 |
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Objectives/Interrogation: Purpose: This retrospective study was designed to evaluate conservative and surgical treatment for acute closed tendon mallet injury.
Methods: A total of 59 patients with acute closed tendon mallet injury were enrolled in this study (29 patients in conservative treatment and 30 patients in surgical treatment). Conservative treatment was performed using two types of splinting and surgical treatment was conducted with oblique K-wire fixation of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint. The DIP joint was immobilized for eight weeks in both treatments. Active ranges of motion of the affected finger and clinical results from Miller’s classification were evaluated postoperatively.
Results and Conclusions: The mean extension lag of the DIP joint in the surgical treatment group was significantly better than it was with conservative treatment (2.1° vs 13.8°, p < 0.001). The surgical treatment group also showed significantly better results on Miller’s classification (p = 0.007). Three patients who were noncompliant with the splint showed poor results, while no patients in the surgical treatment group had a poor result.
Surgical treatment with temporary K-wire fixation leads to satisfactory postoperative results for acute tendon mallet injury.