Biomechanical analysis of mallet finger fracture fixation techniques

• Published in: The Journal of hand surgery (American ed.) Vol. 18; no. 4; p. 600
• Main Authors: Damron, T A, Engber, W D, Lange, R H, McCabe, R, Damron, L A, Ulm, M, Vanderby, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-07-1993
• Subjects: Aged; Analysis of Variance; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cadaver; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Finger Injuries - epidemiology; Finger Injuries - physiopathology; Finger Injuries - surgery; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Fracture Fixation, Internal - statistics & numerical data; Fractures, Bone - epidemiology; Fractures, Bone - physiopathology; Fractures, Bone - surgery; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Intraoperative Complications - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Random Allocation; Regression Analysis
• ISSN: 0363-5023
• DOI: 10.1016/0363-5023(93)90298-H

A biomechanical study was conducted to determine the best fixation technique for mallet finger fracture among four commonly used methods. Considerations were technical complications, biomechanical properties, and maintenance of reduction. Techniques tested included Kirshner wire, figure-of-eight wire, tension band wire, and tension band suture. Technical complications were frequent with both the Kirschner wire and tension band wire techniques. Biomechanical testing yielded significantly greater energy absorbed to failure and a trend toward greater peak loads to failure for both the figure-of-eight wire and tension band suture techniques. Irreversible loss of reduction during testing occurred in all of the Kirschner wire-fixed fractures, in 60% of the tension band wire-fixed fractures, and in 50% of the figure-of-eight wire-fixed fractures. No irreversible failure occurred in the tension band suture group.