Treatment of Mallet fractures with Kirschner wire elastic fixation

Objective To report the surgical technique and treatment outcomes of using open reduction and Kirschner wire elastic fixation for treating Mallet fractures. Methods From May 2009 to April 2014, 43 fresh Mallet fractures were treated with open reduction and Kirschner wire fixation. One K-wire kept the distal interphalangeal joint in extension and the other K-wire applied elastic compression to the fracture fragment. The wires were removed 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively when functional exercises assumed. Results Anatomical reduction of the fractures occurred in all the cases. 39 patients were follow-up for 6 to 28 months (18.5 months on average). Postoperatively the treatment outcomes were evaluated by the total active motion (TAM) scale which revealed excellent results in 26 cases, good results in 11 cases and fair results in 2 cases. The overall satisfactory rate was 94.9%. Conclusion The treatment of Mallet fractures with opened reduction and Kirschner wire elastic fixation is a simple procedure that provides stable internal fixation and allows early rehabilitation. Key words: Finger injuries; Fracture fixation, internal; Mallet finger