Complications and prognosis of treatment of mallet finger.
This study reviews complications of treatment in 123 mallet fingers treated operatively and nonoperatively. In the 84 digits splinted there was a 45% rate of complications, mostly skin related; however, these complications were almost always transient. For the 45 surgically treated digits the complication rate was 53%, with 76% of these complications still present at a mean follow-up of 38 months. Six digits treated initially with splinting (minimum of 6 weeks) and later with surgery were included in both groups. Major complications in the patients undergoing surgery included deep infection (4%), joint incongruity (18%), and nail deformity (18%). In addition, seven patients (16%) required reoperation, and all of these had an unsatisfactory result except that in one finger the outcome was unknown.
Stern
P J
PJ
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio.
Kastrup
J J
JJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D005385:Fingers / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006227:Hand Deformities, Acquired / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D013165:Splints / Q000009:adverse effects