PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of ultrasound to detect a central tear of the finger extensor tendon mechanism. METHODS: Twelve fresh-frozen and thawed cadaver fingers were used. All fingers had a midradial incision with exposure of the extensor mechanism over the proximal interphalangeal joint. Six fingers had a sharp transection of the central slip. The other 6 fingers were used as sham dissection controls. All fingers had the exposure closed by suture and then were examined by a musculoskeletal ultrasonographer. RESULTS: All 12 fingers were identified correctly as either sham controls with intact central slips or as injury models that had a transected central slip. Thus there was a sensitivity of 100% a specificity of 100%, and a positive predictive value of 1.000, which were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic ultrasound is a very accurate noninvasive study that can identify central slip injuries in the extensor mechanism of the finger. We recommend that clinically suspected cases of boutonniere injury be scanned by high-frequency ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis and allow either early initiation of splinting or eliminate the need for prolonged splinting required for this injury.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of ultrasound to detect a central tear of the finger extensor tendon mechanism. METHODS: Twelve fresh-frozen and thawed cadaver fingers were used. All fingers had a midradial incision with exposure of the extensor mechanism over the proximal interphalangeal joint. Six fingers had a sharp transection of the central slip. The other 6 fingers were used as sham dissection controls. All fingers had the exposure closed by suture and then were examined by a musculoskeletal ultrasonographer. RESULTS: All 12 fingers were identified correctly as either sham controls with intact central slips or as injury models that had a transected central slip. Thus there was a sensitivity of 100% a specificity of 100%, and a positive predictive value of 1.000, which were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic ultrasound is a very accurate noninvasive study that can identify central slip injuries in the extensor mechanism of the finger. We recommend that clinically suspected cases of boutonniere injury be scanned by high-frequency ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis and allow either early initiation of splinting or eliminate the need for prolonged splinting required for this injury.
Authors: Giulia Colzani; Pierluigi Tos; Bruno Battiston; Giovanni Merolla; Giuseppe Porcellini; Stefano Artiaco Journal: J Hand Microsurg Date: 2016-04
Authors: Andrea B Rosskopf; Carlo Martinoli; Luca M Sconfienza; Salvatore Gitto; Mihra S Taljanovic; Riccardo Picasso; Andrea Klauser Journal: J Ultrason Date: 2021-12-15