title: Distal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis with the reverse fix nail.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Arthrodesis of distal interphalangeal (DIP) and thumb interphalangeal (IP) joints is a well-established procedure for the treatment of pain, deformity, and instability associated with arthritis and traumatic conditions. Fixation with various headless compression screws has become increasingly common and with favorable outcomes. However, there are still characteristic complications, such as hardware prominence with the distal end of the screw incompletely buried in the distal phalanx. The purpose of this study was to review the outcomes and complications associated with the arthrodesis of DIP and thumb IP joints using the Reverse Fix Nail (Tact Medical, Inc., Tokyo, Japan), a headless compression screw designed for DIP and thumb IP joint arthrodesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 89 cases involving 60 patients, in which arthrodesis with the Reverse Fix Nail was performed for DIP and thumb IP joints. We referenced medical charts, radiographs, and operative records to investigate the complications and postoperative periods to bone union.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 89 consecutive cases, 86 (97%) achieved bone union. Complications included 1 case of prominent hardware and 3 cases of nonunion (1 was asymptomatic and the other 2 were symptomatic, requiring secondary surgery).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Reverse Fix Nail is a favorable implant for DIP joint or thumb IP joint arthrodesis with a comparable bone union rate and lower risk of hardware prominence than other implants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Yugawara Kosei-Nenkin Hospital, Yugawara, Ashigara-shimo, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Momoyama
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000601:surgery; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001858:Bone Nails; D001864:Bone Wires; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome