Dorsal fracture dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint: surgical complications and long-term results.

This retrospective study assessed the short-term complications and long-term subjective and objective results of operative treatment of acute unstable dorsal proximal interphalangeal joint dislocations treated by 2 methods: open reduction internal fixation and volar plate arthroplasty. Fifty-six patients were included in this study. Twenty-three (41%) were treated by volar plate arthroplasty and 33 (59%) were treated by open reduction internal fixation. Postoperative complications occurred in 10 patients (18%). The most frequent complication was redislocation, which occurred in 6 patients (volar plate arthroplasty, 3 patients; open reduction internal fixation, 3 patients) and necessitated salvage surgery in 4 of these 6 cases. In all 6 cases, the fracture of the base of the middle phalanx involved more than 50% of the articular surface. Twenty-four patients (43%) returned for long-term evaluation at an average follow-up period of 46 months (range, 13-125 months). Twenty of these 24 patients (83%) reported little or no pain despite a high incidence (96%) of posttraumatic degenerative changes. Eighteen (75%) reported no difficulty with work activities; 92% continued leisure activities with little or no modification. Proximal interphalangeal joint flexion contractures and extension lag at the distal interphalangeal joint were common. These data indicate that if reduction is maintained, patients may expect few functional deficits despite radiographic degenerative changes and loss of mobility.