SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF MALLET FINGER FRACTURES BY TENSION BAND TECHNIQUE

A retrospective review was performed of 19 patients with irreducible m allet finger fractures after failed splinting. The patients were treat ed with open reduction and a tension band technique. Follow-up results were available for 18 patients (95%) at an average 8.2 years postoper atively. Eighty-nine percent of patients had no clinical mallet deform ity, troublesome pain, or major functional disability. Distal interpha langeal range of motion averaged 1 degrees hyperextension to 69 degree s flexion. All fractures healed with a congruent articular surface. Mi nor nonmechanical complications were encountered in 11% of cases in wh ich a suture was used as the tension band material. Successful treatme nt may thus be achieved surgically in this select subset of mallet fin ger fractures when this technique is employed.