[Treatment of fresh subcutaneous flexor tendon rupture of the distal joint of long fingers with temporary bone wire arthrodesis].

Drop-finger at the distal joint or mallet-finger from injury occurs because of the extensor apparatus is so much weaker than the flexor tendon that it breaks under strain. We report on 100 cases treated by internal splinting with longitudinal applied Kirschner wire in the distal and middle phalanx of the finger. It affords an absolute immobilisation of the distal interphalangeal joint in slight hyperextension with relaxation of the extensor apparatus. The wire was removed after six weeks. The results evaluated in 76 patients by follow-up four to 84 months were classified as excellent in 86.8% (full range of motion), good in 11.9% (loss of motion 5 to 15 degrees), and poor in 1.3% (loss of motion more than 15 degrees). The excellent and good results emphasize that internal splinting in ruptures of the extensor apparatus near the distal interphalangeal joint.