title: A modified tension band wiring technique for treatment of the bony mallet finger.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the outcomes of mallet fractures treated with our modified tension band wiring technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven men and two women (mean age; 33 years) with mallet fractures in which happened more than five weeks before surgery, or with fracture fragments involving more than 2/3 or less than 1/3 of the distal phalanx articular surface or with previous surgical intervention, were subjected to this study. The fracture fragment was fixed with a modified tension band wiring technique using a stainless steel wire and an injection needle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients achieved bone union in nine weeks in average. All patients had no pain except one with mild pain. No patient showed a gap or step-off greater than 1 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our tension band wiring technique can be used regardless of the size of the dorsal fracture fragment or the interval between injury and surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8570, Japan , Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto 606-8570, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kakinoki
authors.forename: Soichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Yukitoshi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaizawa
authors.forename: Hiromu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Scott F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001864:Bone Wires; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult