Mallet finger deformity: treatment reconsidered

ABSTRACT

Two hundred patients with traumatic mallet finger deformities are treated according to the pathological nature of the lesion. Incomplete lesions are treated by master neglect i.e. simple observation. Complete freshtears are treated with custom made splints; recent avulsion fractures are treated by barbed wire fixation. In old injuries the fragment is excised and direct repair to the periosteum is made and supplemented with krischner wire fixation of the distal joint. Tightening of the expansion opposite the middle phalanx is done in old complete tears. This proposed classification and plan of management is found effective