Physical Therapy-Induced Secondary Bony Mallet Finger Deformity

Hyun Ho Han; Jong Yun Choi; Suk Ho Moon

doi:10.12790/jkssh.2015.20.3.138

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Han, Choi, and Moon: Physical Therapy-Induced Secondary Bony Mallet Finger Deformity

Case Report

J Korean Soc Surg Hand 2015;20(3):138-141.

Published online: 11 December 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12790/jkssh.2015.20.3.138

Physical Therapy-Induced Secondary Bony Mallet Finger Deformity

Hyun Ho Han, Jong Yun Choi, Suk Ho Moon

Department of Plastic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence to: Suk Ho Moon Department of Plastic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Korea TEL: +82-2-2258-6144 FAX: +82-2-594-7230 E-mail: nasuko@catholic.ac.kr

Received 11 May 2015 Received 20 June 2015 Accepted 23 July 2015

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

After operation for fracture in the phalangeal bones, rehabilitation is initiated in order to minimize joint stiffness if in the case, complete bony union is confirmed by hand surgeons. The described case demonstrates that bony mallet deformity can occur during physical therapy following by surgical pinning of a proximal phalangeal fracture. This mallet finger deformity occurred due to vigorous rehabilitation for correction of postoperative joint stiffness. So, when hand surgeons treat patients with proximal phalangeal fracture, it is important to minimize joint space involvement and close follow-ups accompanying imaging studies during rehabilitation period.

Keywords: Mallet deformity, Rehabilitation, Stiffness, Fracture

References

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Fig. 1.

Primary little finger fracture. (A) Radiographs depicted a comminuted fracture of the head of the proximal phalanx. (B) Postoperative radiograph demonstrating anatomic reduction by Kirschner wire fixation at 7 days after injury. (C) Lateral radiograph taken two months after closed reduction demonstrating complete bony union.

Fig. 2.

Secondary bony mallet deformity. (A) The patient represented due to a distal phalangeal bone fracture on his little finger. (B) The extension block method was used to treat the bony mallet injury.

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