INTERPHALANGEAL DISLOCATION OF THE 4TH TOE WITH AVULSION-FRACTURE IN A CHILD - REPORT OF A CASE

Phalangeal dislocations of toes are extremely rare in childhood and us ually can be treated by closed reduction. We present a proximal interp halangeal dislocation of the fourth toe with an irreducible avulsion f racture of the middle phalanx requiring open reduction. To our knowled ge concomitant avulsion fractures in this condition have not been repo rted thus far in pediatric patients. The pathological mechanism of thi s injury is discussed, and the significance of the plantar plate for j oint stability is emphasized.