Published online Apr 30, 2008.
https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2008.21.2.140
The Results of Surgical Treatment for Nonunion of Phalanges in the Hand
Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the results of internal fixation and autogenous bone graft for the phalangeal nonunion in the hand.
Materials and Methods
From Feb. 2000 until May 2006, thirteen cases that had been treated for non-union of phalanges in the hand were investigated retrospectively. Seven cases were treated with mini-plate fixation and autogenous cancellous graft and six cases with Kirschner wire fixation and autogenous cancellous graft. We analyzed bony union period radiographically and clinical results according to Belsky's score.
Results
Thirteen cases obtained bony union. Seven cases of mini-plate fixation and bone graft, and six cases of K-wire fixation and bone graft achieved the bony union postoperatively on average 7.9 weeks and 6.3 weeks, respectively. Clinical results were "good" in four cases and "poor" in nine cases according to the Belsky's score. Only one of ten cases with associated injuries, such as tendon, nerve, arterial injuries and other finger fractures in the injured hand, had the good clinical result, but all three cases without associated injuries had the good one.
Conclusion
Internal fixation and autogenous bone graft can be a successful treatment of phalangeal nonunion. However, more careful choice of surgical treatment methods and preoperative explanation of poor post-operative results or complications should be made for phalangeal nonunion with associated injuries in the finger because of poor outcome in those cases.
Fig. 1
(B) There was no medullary bridge in the anteroposterior view of preoperative X-ray of the thumb. (C) At 8 weeks after the nonunion operation, the anteroposterior view of immediate postoperative X-ray showed miniplate fixation and autogenous bone graft. (D) At 8 weeks after the nonunion operation, the lateral view of immediate postoperative X-ray showed the correction of the bony angulation and the filling of the bony gap. (E) At 7 weeks after the nonunion operation, the anteroposterior view of the X-ray showed the medullary bridge of the fracture site. The clinical result according to Belsky score was good. (F) At 7 weeks after the nonunion operation, the lateral view of X-ray showed the cortical continuity of the fracture site.
A 36-year-old man sustained proximal phalanx fracture of the thumb and K-wires fixation was done at local clinic. At the time of injury of the hand, associated injury was not detected.
(A) The lateral view of preoperative X-ray of the thumb showed angulation and bony gap of the fracture site.
Fig. 2
(B) K-wires fixation and autogenous bone graft were done. (C) The bony union was achieved radiographically at 5 weeks after the operation. The clinical result was poor.
A 26-year-old man sustained the multiple comminuted fractures of the left hand in a motor vehicle accident. Degloving wound in the dorsum of the hand and third phalangeal bony exposure were detected. And the injuries of extensor tendon and digital nerve of the left third finger were involved.
(A) At 12 weeks after the initial surgery, patient suffered pain of fracture site of the left 3rd finger and radiograph showed no evidence of union.
Table 1
Demographic data of patients
Table 2
Relationships of associated injuries, treatment methods and fracture type to bony union time and clinical results
References
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Ring D. Malunion and nonunion of the metacarpals and phalanges. Instr Course Lect 2006;55:121–128.
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MeSH Terms
Figures
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Tables
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