Introduction:
Extension-block pinning is a popular surgical treatment method for mallet fractures but is associated with several pitfalls. Transfixation Kirschner wires used in the extension-block pinning technique may cause iatrogenic nail bed injury, bone fragment rotation, chondral damage, or osteoarthritis. The objective of this study was to determine the result of the delta wiring technique in a case of mallet finger with fracture fragment involving more than one-third of the distal phalanx articular surface. This is the first reported case of mallet fracture treated with delta wiring in literature.
Case report:
A 30-year-old male patient admitted in our institute with complaints of severe pain in the right index finger with inability to extend the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) for 5 days. There was a history of fall from the bike before this complaint. Radiographs revealed a bony mallet fracture involving more than one-third of the articular surface of distal phalanx. The patient was taken up for delta wiring fixation of the fracture. Radiographic bony union was seen at 7 weeks. At the final follow-up at 1 year, DIP had 75° of flexion and had extension deficit of 5°. According to Crawford's criteria, the patient had good results with a VAS score of 1 with no pain.
Conclusion:
Delta wiring technique is a new and safe treatment modality for bony mallet fracture with fracture fragment involving more than one-third of the distal phalanx articular surface as satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes obtained in our case.