title: Rehabilitation for proximal phalangeal fractures.
abstract: Proximal phalangeal fracture stability is crucial for the initiation of early and effective exercises designed to recover digital and especially proximal interphalangeal joint motion. Active digital flexion and extension exercises are implemented by synergistic wrist motion. Joint blocking exercises and active tendon gliding exercises in protective blocking splints are instrumental elements of early treatment. Dynamic splinting and serial finger casting are used in recalcitrant, severe, and late presenting cases. Surgical release is a last resort in regaining proximal interphalangeal joint motion. This measure is reserved for a failure of treatment when residual proximal interphalangeal joint contracture is persistent and severe enough to cause serious impairment of digital motion and hand function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, USA. afreeland@orthopedics.umsmed.edu
authors.forename: Alan E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Freeland
authors.forename: Maureen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singletary
mesh_terms: D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology