Factors influencing functional outcome of proximal interphalangeal joint collateral ligament injury when treated with buddy strapping and exercise.
METHODS
Prospective cohort.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluates the factors influencing treatment outcomes of proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint collateral ligament injuries when treated with buddy strapping.


METHODS
Sixty-seven patients treated with buddy strapping for a PIP joint injury were enrolled. The finger range of motion (ROM), grip strength, and a Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) score were assessed at 3 and 6 months after the initial injury. The factors that were assessed for their influence on the functional outcomes included age, sex, hand dominance, affected finger, type of injury, injury severity, time to treatment, the duration of buddy strapping, and exercise training.


RESULTS
Buddy strapping for PIP joint injuries led to satisfactory results with 77% recovery of grip strength, 84% recovery in ROM, and mean QuickDASH scores of 14 at 6 months. A decrease in grip strength was associated with an increase in age and injury severity at 6 months, and these 2 factors accounted for 22% of the variance in the grip strength. A decrease in ROM was associated with the delayed treatment, which accounted for 18% of the variance in ROM at 6 months. An increased disability was associated with delayed treatment, female gender, and radial digit injury at 3 months, and these 3 factors accounted for 37% of the variance in disability. At 6 months, only the delayed treatment remained an associated factor, which accounted for 20% variance in disability.


CONCLUSIONS
PIP collateral ligament injuries had very good outcomes with buddy strapping. However, delayed treatment was significantly associated with poor functional outcomes in terms of the ROM and disability. An increase in age and injury severity were associated with lower grip strength up to 6 months, whereas a female gender and radial digit injury were associated with an increased disability up to 3 months.


METHODS
2.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Young Hak
YH
Roh
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Young Do
YD
Koh
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
Jae Yun
JY
Go
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Korea. Electronic address: bestknee@hotmail.com.
Jung Ho
JH
Noh
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hyun Sik
HS
Gong
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Goo Hyun
GH
Baek
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017885:Collateral Ligaments / Q000293:injuries*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D005384:Finger Joint; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
Collateral ligament injury; Prognosis; Proximal interphalangeal joint; Risk factors