Problems of Diagnosis, Conservative Treatment and Long-Term Results of “Mallet Finger” Fracture

Summary. Distal phalanx dorsal edge fracture is treated in a relatively simple closed manner during the first weeks after injury. The role of the distal interphalangeal joint in the upper extremity integral function reaches conventionally only a few percent. This may lead to insufficient attention and a large number of mistakes in diagnosis and treatment of such injuries, which in turn provokes complications that are much more difficult to treat than the primary injury. This article considers the most common problems of diagnosis and treatment of “mallet finger” fractures. Advantages and disadvantages of various techniques used in the treatment of such fractures in acute and neglected cases are considered and analyzed. Objective: to study the effect of distal phalanx dorsal edge avulsive fractures on function of the upper limb, quality of life, and depression rate in long term period after injury. Materials and Methods. Data from 11 patients (8 (88%) males and 3 (12%) females) with neglected cases of distal phalanx dorsal edge avulsive fractures were studied. QuickDASH questionnaire and visual analog scales were used to study impaired quality of life and depression rate in such patients. Indicators that lead to the need for surgery in long term period after injury have been identified. Results. It was determined that in long term period, in patients with a “mallet finger” fracture, function of the upper extremity suffered significantly and was 29.2±20.2 points (range 2.3-75) according to QuickDASH scale. This condition also significantly affected the general well-being of the patient. Average value of impaired quality of life was 43.6±24.6 (range 0-90 points), and depression rate due to upper extremity dysfunction was 44.6±22.7 (range 0-90 points). Conclusions. Despite the relatively minor injury, high rates of dysfunction, impact on quality of life and depression rate indicate the need to restore finger function even in long term period after injury.

Conservative versus Surgical Treatment in Management of Closed Mallet Finger:A Systematic Review and MetaAnalysis

Background Several methods of treatment have been mentioned in management of closed mallet finger injury, as conservative methods using stack splint,dorsal aluminum splint or custom thermoplastic splint, or surgical procedures as direct pinning method, extention block technique or hook plate fixation, there is no consensus for the best method of treatment. Objectives to review and meta-analyze the outcomes of conservative versus surgical treatment in management of closed mallet finger injury and statistically compare between their results of pain, extensor lag, range of motion of distal inter-phalangeal joint. Materials and Methods The review will be restricted to randomized controlled trials (RCTs), clinical trials, and comparative studies, either prospective or retrospective, which studied the outcome of conservative versus surgical treatment in management of closed mallet finger, articles published in English. PRISMA flow chart 950 articles were found using search keywords. By filtration and screening of the title and exclusion of unrelated articles, 150 articles were found. By applications of all inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 55 articles which met all inclusion criteria, 50 studies were systematically reviewed, and 5 randomized controlled trials were fit to undergo a meta-analysis, after conducting meta-analysis we found that P value for pain svore based on visual analogue score (VAS) was 1, extensor lag P value < 0.001, and range of motion P value <0.001. Conclusion No significant differences was found between the conservative and the surgical groups regarding the pain score, distal inter-phalangeal joint extensor lag, and distal inter-phalangeal joint range of motion in treatment of closed mallet finger.

Osteoarthritis after Extension Block Technique for the Bony Mallet Finger

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate osteoarthritis after treatment of bony mallet finger using the extension block method.Methods: A single institutional retrospective review identified 163 patients with bony mallet between January 2012 and July 2020 and received surgical treatment using extension block method. The radiographic examination showed that the fracture line disappeared and a bridging callus was formed and bone union was confirmed. Fractures were classified according to the Tubiana classification method. Demographic data, fracture pattern, postoperative X-ray, and late complications were analyzed. Clinical outcomes were analyzed using Crawford’s criteria.Results: Surgical treatment was performed within an average of 8.8 days after injury, and the average follow-up period was 11.6 weeks. Osteoarthritis findings were confirmed by joint space narrowing and osteophytes on radiographic examination of 32 out of 163 patients. Age, sex, occupation, location of trauma, operation time, and type of fracture did not affect the osteoarthritis after extension block. Invasion of Kirschner wire (K-wire) to the fracture surface, family history of osteoarthritis, and operation time turned out to have a statistically significant effect on osteoarthritis (p<0.05).Conclusions: Fracture surface invasion of K-wire and family history of osteoarthritis affect osteoarthritis after treatment of bony mallet.