Analysis of Surgical Techniques for Avulsion Fractures of the Distal Phalanges in Children
- Authors: Gordienko I.I.1,2, Slukina A.E.1, Tsap N.A.1,2
-
Affiliations:
- Ural State Medical University
- Children’s City Clinical Hospital No. 9, Yekaterinburg
- Issue: Vol 13, No 3 (2025)
- Pages: 247-255
- Section: Clinical studies
- URL: https://bakhtiniada.ru/turner/article/view/349946
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/PTORS683118
- EDN: https://elibrary.ru/FMXDGR
- ID: 349946
Cite item
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Avulsion intra-articular fractures account for up to 18% of all bony injuries of the distal phalanx among children. Currently, there is no unified approach for the surgical treatment of such injuries. The Ishiguro technique is an alternative to open reduction; however, experience with its use in pediatric traumatology is limited.
AIM: This study aimed to determine the optimal surgical technique for avulsion intra-articular fractures of the distal phalanges in children by comparing the outcomes of open reduction with fixation of the peripheral fragment and of minimally invasive reduction with osteosynthesis using the Ishiguro method.
METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted at Traumatology Departments Nos. 1 and 2 of the Children’s City Clinical Hospital No. 9, Yekaterinburg. Twenty-nine children with avulsion intra-articular fractures of the distal phalanges, with displacement greater than one-third of the articular surface, were included. In the main group (n = 15), minimally invasive reduction and osteosynthesis using the Ishiguro technique were performed; in the control group (n = 14), open reduction and fixation of the peripheral fragment with a wire were conducted. Local inflammatory changes were assessed on postoperative days 3 and 7. The range of motion in the distal interphalangeal joint was measured using a goniometer at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after implant removal.
RESULTS: The main group demonstrated significantly more effective restoration of distal interphalangeal joint motion: 17.80° ± 7.43° versus 7.79° ± 3.40° at 1 week after implant removal (p < 0.001); 57.47° ± 13.11° versus 28.86° ± 12.09° at 2 weeks (p < 0.001); and 89 [85; 90]° versus 78.50 [77.25; 83.00]° at 4 weeks (p < 0.001). Macroscopic evaluation of pin entry sites on postoperative days 3 and 7 showed no significant differences between the groups (p > 0.05). Fracture consolidation was achieved in all cases. Peripheral fragment comminution was observed in one patient from the control group.
CONCLUSION: The Ishiguro osteosynthesis technique may be recommended as the method of choice for treating children with intra-articular avulsion fractures of the distal phalanges owing to its technical reproducibility, minimal invasiveness, and favorable functional outcomes.
Full Text
##article.viewOnOriginalSite##About the authors
Ivan I. Gordienko
Ural State Medical University; Children’s City Clinical Hospital No. 9, Yekaterinburg
Author for correspondence.
Email: ivan-gordienko@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3157-4579
SPIN-code: 5368-0964
MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor
Russian Federation, Yekaterinburg; YekaterinburgAnastasia E. Slukina
Ural State Medical University
Email: anast.slukina@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0000-3431-7813
SPIN-code: 5149-4840
Russian Federation, Yekaterinburg
Natalia A. Tsap
Ural State Medical University; Children’s City Clinical Hospital No. 9, Yekaterinburg
Email: tsapna-ekat@rambler.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9050-3629
SPIN-code: 7466-8731
MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation, Ekaterinburg; EkaterinburgReferences
- Abzug JM, Dua K, Bauer AS, et al. Pediatric phalanx fractures. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2016;24(11):e174–e183. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-16-00199
- Chen AT, Conry KT, Gilmore A, et al. Outcomes following operative treatment of adolescent mallet fractures. HSS J. 2018;14(1):83–87. doi: 10.1007/s11420-017-9563-7
- Lankachandra M, Wells CR, Cheng CJ, Hutchison RL. Complications of distal phalanx fractures in children. J Hand Surg Am. 2017;42(7):574.e1–574.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.03.042
- Khera B, Chang C, Bhat W. An overview of mallet finger injuries. Acta Biomed. 2021;92(5):e2021246. doi: 10.23750/abm.v92i5.11731
- Nashi N, Sebastin SJ. A pragmatic and evidence-based approach to mallet finger. J Hand Surg Asian Pac Vol. 2021;26(3):319–332. doi: 10.1142/S2424835521400063 EDN: RAYFCW
- Lin JS, Samora JB. Surgical and nonsurgical management of mallet finger: a systematic review. J Hand Surg Am. 2018;43(2):146–163.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.10.004
- Lin JS, Samora JB. Outcomes of splinting in pediatric mallet finger. J Hand Surg Am. 2018;43(11):1041.e1–1041.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2018.03.037
- Niechajev IA. Conservative and operative treatment of mallet finger. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1985;76(4):580–585. doi: 10.1097/00006534-198510000-00019
- Wang WC, Hsu CE, Yeh CW, et al. Functional outcomes and complications of hook plate for bony mallet finger: a retrospective case series study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021;22(1):281. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04163-2 EDN: FZEZCH
- Rocchi L, Fulchignoni C, De Vitis R, et al. Extension block pinning vs single Kirshner wiring to treat bony mallet finger: a retrospective study. Acta Biomed. 2022;92(S3):e2021535. doi: 10.23750/abm.v92iS3.12484
- Janarv PM, Wikström B, Hirsch G. The influence of transphyseal drilling and tendon grafting on bone growth: an experimental study in the rabbit. J Pediatr Orthop. 1998;18(2):149–154.
- Hara A. Conservative treatment of chronic mallet fracture non-union after failed pin fixation. Asp Biomed Clin Case Rep. 2020;3(1):25–28. doi: 10.36502/2020/ASJBCCR.6181
- Gordienko II, Tsap NA, Kutepov SM. Treatment of fractures of the main phalanx of the fingers in children. Pediatric Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Reconstructive Surgery. 2022;10(3):247–253. doi: 10.17816/PTORS108751 EDN: KIQVXZ
- Segond P. Note on a case of tearing off the insertion point of the small phalangeal laguettes of the extensor of the little finger, by force bending of the phalangette on the phalagina. The Medical Progress. 1880;VIII:534–535. (In French.)
- Shankar NS, Goring CC. Mallet finger: long-term review of 100 cases. J R Coll Surg Edinb. 1992;37(3):196–198.
- Wehbé MA, Schneider LH. Mallet fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1984;66(5):658–669.
- Volkova YS, Rodomanova LA. Management of mallet finger: current status (review). Traumatology and Orthopedics of Russia. 2022;28(4):183–192. doi: 10.17816/2311-2905-1996 EDN: ZDEMEA
- Ishiguro T, Itoh Y, Yabe Y, Hashizume N. Extension block with Kirschner wire for fracture dislocation of the distal interphalangeal joint. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 1997;1(2):95–102. doi: 10.1097/00130911-199706000-00005
- Usami S, Kawahara S, Kuno H, et al. A retrospective study of closed extension block pinning for mallet fractures: analysis of predictors of postoperative range of motion. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2018;71(6):876–882. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2018.01.041
- Capkin S. Extension-block pinning to treat bony mallet finger: is a transfixation pin necessary? Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2019;25(3):281–286. doi: 10.5505/tjtes.2018.59951
- Perez-Lopez LM, Perez-Abad M, Suarez Merchan MA, Cabrera Ortiz DA. Reverse Ishiguro extension block technique as an alternative for irreducible osseous mallet finger. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 2024;28(2):62–66. doi: 10.1097/BTH.0000000000000465 EDN: GJVPKD
- Gergő J, Dániel K, Zsolt O. The Ishiguro technique for the treatment of mallet finger fracture in adolescent. Nov Tech Arthritis Bone Res. 2017;1(1):555552. doi: 10.19080/NTAB.2017.01.555552
- Gordienko II, Slukina AE, Shilina SA, Tsap NA. Comparative analysis of the results of treatment for metacarpal neck fractures in children with antegrade and retrograde Kirschner wire fixation. Ural Medical Journal. 2024;23(5):32–42. doi: 10.52420/umj.23.5.32 EDN: DDDPEH
- Acciaro AL, Gravina D, Pantaleoni F, et al. Retrospective study of Ishiguro’s technique for mallet bone finger in children: long-term follow-up and analysis of predictors in outcomes. Int Orthop. 2024;48(6):1501–1506. doi: 10.1007/s00264-024-06162-z EDN: FDZJKS
Supplementary files






