CHILDRENS PROXIMAL PHALANGEAL NECK FRACTURES WITH 180-DEGREES ROTATIONAL DEFORMITY

Five patients under 4 years of age with 180 degrees rotational deformi ty of a proximal phalangeal neck fracture are described. All cases res ulted from a direct shear force to the bone coupled with a sharp withd rawal reaction of the hand. All of the children were successfully trea ted with open reduction and internal fixation but only after fruitless attempts at closed manipulation and an initial lack of recognition of the severity of the fracture, Each child achieved a full functional r ecovery of the finger with clinical and radiological union at 4 weeks.