Treatment of phalangeal fractures by tension band wiring.

This retrospective study assessed the outcomes of 30 patients with phalangeal fractures which were treated by open reduction and tension band wiring. Oblique, transverse and comminuted extraarticular fractures, as well as intraarticular fractures, were treated with this technique and they all united in about 8 weeks. There were no significant complications. At a mean follow-up period of 2.3 years, the active range of movement of the involved fingers was excellent in 17, and good in 13 instances. There were no fair or poor results. Copyright 2001 The British Society for Surgery of the Hand.