A MODIFIED TENSION BAND WIRING TECHNIQUE FOR TREATMENT OF THE BONY MALLET FINGER

Purpose: To report the outcomes of mallet fractures treated with our modified tension band wiring technique. Methods: Eleven men and two women (mean age; 33 years) with mallet fractures in which happened more than five weeks before surgery, or with fracture fragments involving more than 2/3 or less than 1/3 of the distal phalanx articular surface or with previous surgical intervention, were subjected to this study. The fracture fragment was fixed with a modified tension band wiring technique using a stainless steel wire and an injection needle. Results: All patients achieved bone union in nine weeks in average. All patients had no pain except one with mild pain. No patient showed a gap or step-off greater than 1 mm. Conclusions: Our tension band wiring technique can be used regardless of the size of the dorsal fracture fragment or the interval between injury and surgery.