title: Extension Block Pinning Versus Hook Plate Fixation for Treatment of Mallet Fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the outcomes and associated costs of the treatment of mallet fractures with either extension block pinning or open reduction and hook plate fixation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 22 patients for a mallet fracture that involved at least 25% of the distal phalanx articular surface. Three joints demonstrated concomitant volar subluxation. Extension block pinning was used to treat 16 fractures (group 1) and 6 were treated with open reduction and hook plate fixation (group 2). All patients were evaluated at the second, fourth, and sixth weeks after surgery. Collected data included range of motion, extensor lag, and pain status. Patients were asked to grade preoperative and postoperative pain levels on a visual analog scale. Functional outcomes were determined by Crawford criteria. We retrospectively performed a cost analysis using our institutional records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up was 12.7 months. Visual analog scale pain scores improved by a similar amount for both groups. Preoperative pain scores were 7.0 for group 1 and 7.5 for group 2. Postoperative levels were 2.0 and 2.0, respectively. Mean extensor lag was identical for both groups, 5°. Mean flexion was 70° for group 1 and 80° for group 2. Based on the Crawford criteria, group 1 had 5 patients rated as excellent, 6 as good, 3 as fair, and 2 as poor. Group 2 outcomes were 2 excellent, 2 good, and 2 fair. Five complications occurred in group 1, and 1 in group 2. Differences noted between groups were not statistically significant. Extension block pinning was more cost-effective than hook plate fixation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We find extension block pinning to be an equally effective but more cost-efficient treatment than open reduction and hook plate fixation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic III.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey. Electronic address: tokerserdar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toker
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Faik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Türkmen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oğuzhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pekince
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: İsmail
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Korucu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nazım
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karalezli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D050278:Finger Phalanges / Q000293:injuries*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D057072:Intra-Articular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Extension block pinning; hook plate; mallet fracture