A comparative study of the trealrnent outcomes of type I mallet fingers with or without an avulsed fracture fragment

Objective To analyze the treatment outcomes of type I mallet fingers with or without bony fragment. Methods From 2005 to 2010, 46 patients with type I mallet fingers were treated. They were divided into two groups. In group A, 22 patients had type I mallet fingers with madsion fractmrc at the extensor insertion. The distal interphalangeai joint and the avulsed bone fragment were fLxed with K-wires. In group B, 24 patients had type I mallet fingers without a fracture. The distal interphalangeal joint was fixed with a K-wire, and the ruptured tendon was sutured. The K-wire was removed after 5 to 7 weeks in both groups. Results All patients in both groups were follow-up for 5 to 38 months, with an average of 16 months. According to Patel＇ s evaluation standard, there were 7 eases graded as excellent, 5 eases as good, 3 cases as fair, and 7 eases as poor in group A; there were 7 cases as excellent, 3 cases as good, 10 cases as fair, and 4 cases as poor in group B. The percentage of poor function in group A was 31.8%, higher than the percentage of poor function in group B which was 16. ＂/%. However, fair function in group B accounted for 41. ＂/%. There were no significant differences in excellent rates between two groups （ P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion Poor treatment outcomes in patients of type I mallet fingers with distal phalanx base avulsion fracture is almost twice as much as in patients of type I mallet fingers without avulsion fracture fragments. Fair functional outcomes in patients without avulsion bone fragnents accounted for 41.7%. The overall results were similar between the two groups. Key words: Fractures,bone;  Tendon injuries;  Follow-up studies;  Mallet finger