A Novel Prolene Suture Pull-out Technique Combined with Anchor Technique for the Treatment of Tendinous Mallet Finger

Abstract

Background: Mallet finger deformity is a prevalent disability that causes discomfort and inconvenience to the patients. Despite the existence of various surgical approaches, surgical management remains a controversial subject. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 26 patients with isolated tendinous mallet fingers who were admitted between January 2021 and June 2022. Among them, there were 18 men and eight women, aged between 20 and 56 years, with an average age of 38 years. The causes of injury were cutting injuries (15 cases), sports impact injuries (nine cases), and sprains (two cases). The time interval between injury and surgery ranged from 2 hours to 48 days, with an average of 12 days. During the surgical procedure, the distal interphalangeal joint was fixed in a mild dorsiflexion position using Kirschner wire. Absorbable anchors were used to assist in the reconstruction of the insertion point of the finger extensor tendon. Additionally, a 4-0 Prolene suture was used for reinforcement. Results: All 26 patients were followed up for a period ranging from 6 to 24 months, with an average follow-up duration of 9 months. The function of distal interphalangeal joint was preserved. According to the Crawford functional evaluation criteria, the function of the affected fingers was excellent in 15 cases, good in eight cases, fair in three cases, and poor in no cases. Conclusions: A novel Prolene suture pull-out technique is an effective approach to repair tendon mallet finger and reconstruct the tendon-bone anatomical unit. This treatment option provides favorable outcomes, with high rates of excellent and good functional results.