Objective: Reconstruction of the anatomic configuration of the articular surface and restoration of complete movement of the finger joint.
Indications: Fracture of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint involving > or = 30% of the articular surface. Luxation or subluxation of the distal phalanx. Fracture-dislocation > or = 2 mm.
Contraindications: Old fractures. Closed reduction impossible.
Surgical technique: Closed reduction and pin fixation modified from Ishiguro technique without penetrating the fracture fragment.
Postoperative management: Cast fixation for 4 weeks with the finger in functional position or with the proximal interphalangeal joint flexed to relax the pulley. After 4 weeks, removal of the cast and the pin and start of active motion exercises.
Results: Twelve patients with fracture-dislocation of the DIP joint involving more than one third of the articular surface were treated with the modified extension block technique according to Ishiguro. Time from injury to surgery was 5 days (range, 0-8 days). At a mean follow-up of 15 months (range, 9-31 months), pain on the visual analog scale (VAS, 0 = no pain, 10 = maximum pain), the active range of motion, and criteria according to Warren et al. were evaluated. Eleven patients were pain-free and one patient suffered from mild pain during strenuous work. The mean active range of motion was from -3 degrees extension (range, 0-10 degrees ) and flexion to 79 degrees (range, 45-100 degrees ). The results according to Warren et al. were very good in ten and good in two cases.