title: Volar plate arthroplasty of the distal interphalangeal joint.
abstract: Ten patients with chronic dorsal fracture subluxation of the distal interphalangeal joint were managed over 5 years with volar plate advancement arthroplasty. The mean time from injury to definitive surgical treatment was 8 weeks (range, 2 weeks to 4 months). All injuries were characterized by volar comminution and impaction of the distal phalanx, with associated dorsal subluxation. Surgical treatment included volar plate advancement arthroplasty and K-wire fixation of the reduced joint for 4 weeks. All patients were evaluated at an average postoperative duration of 25 months (range, 10-60 months). The average arc of motion of the distal interphalangeal joint of the 4 fingers (6) was 42 degrees and of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb (4) was 51 degrees. All patients had a residual flexion contracture averaging 12 degrees (range, 6 degrees to 25 degrees ). Volar plate advancement arthroplasty is an effective treatment for chronic distal interphalangeal joint dorsal fracture subluxation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rettig
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dassa
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Raskin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001178:Arthroplasty; D001864:Bone Wires; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male