Dislocation Of The Epiphysis Of The Distal Phalanx: A Case Report And Treatment With S-Quatro
S Sadiq, M Waseem, N Fahmy
Citation
S Sadiq, M Waseem, N Fahmy. Dislocation Of The Epiphysis Of The Distal Phalanx: A Case Report And Treatment With S-Quatro. The Internet Journal of Orthopedic Surgery. 2005 Volume 3 Number 2.
Abstract
Epiphyseal dislocation of the terminal phalanx is a rare injury in children. This injury is also called mallet equivalent injury of which there are four types
The mechanism of such injuries is usually described as hyper-flexion force and may even involve the nail plate injuries (with and without a nail bed laceration)
We describe a case of epiphysis dislocation presenting three weeks after the injury that was managed by external fixation (S-Quattro).
Case Report
A boy aged seven was referred to the senior Author because of an injury he had sustained to his right middle finger three weeks previously. On examination, a swelling was visible on the dorsum of the middle phalanx the finger. The terminal inter-phalangeal joint was held in the flexed position usually seen in an adult mallet finger. Radiographs showed that the epiphyseal plate of the terminal phalanx was totally displaced and was lying on the dorsum of the middle phalanx (Fig.1).
Figure 1
At the first operation the joint was distracted using S-quattro for three weeks (Fig. 2). The patient was followed weekly to check the amount of distraction achieved with a weekly radiograph. At three weeks at second operation the epiphysis was pushed to the space using k-wire as a joy-stick and was reduced closed. After reduction the k-wire was passed from volar to dorsal maintaining desired position. The wire was removed at three weeks. At six weeks the patient achieved full flexion of DIP and had no symptoms. The patient made an uneventful recovery and exhibited full pain-free motion at two years.
Figure 2
Figure 3
Discussion
Young children cannot give accurate histories and are usually difficult to examine, following injury. Careful examination of the fingers is necessary. The most common mechanism causing a mallet finger deformity is a sudden flexion force applied to the distal inter-phalangeal joint while the extensor tendon is under tension. In adults this usually ruptures the extensor tendon, but in children with a thick epiphyseal plate it may result in separation of the epiphyseal plate through the zone of calcifying cartilage.5 Rank & Wakefield6 observed that mallet finger deformity in children is due to forward angulation of the diaphysis on the epiphysis. Salter and Harris 7 pointed out that the flexion deformity was due to the unopposed action of the flexor profundus on the shaft of the bone, whereas the extensor, being inserted into the epiphysis maintains the epiphysis in the extended position.
The rare types of mallet finger (C and D) have been scarcely reported 8,9 and open reduction was required in the two cases reported in literature so far. It is imperative that lateral radiographs are taken to determine the degree of displacement. Even late reduction of this displacement, resulted in normal growth of the terminal phalanx because the growing cells of the epiphyseal plate remained with the epiphysis even when separation is complete.