Use of a Box-cut Osteotomy Preserving Collateral Ligaments in Costal Osteochondral Graft Reconstruction of Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Cartilage Defects

Abstract

We report two patients with reconstruction of osteochondral defects of the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) using a costal osteochondral graft (COG). A box-cut osteotomy was done at the end of the phalanx preserving the lateral cortices and the insertion of the collateral ligaments. A COG was harvested from the rib, moulded and press fit into the groove formed by the box-cut osteotomy. The COG was fixed with mini screws in the coronal plane (dorsal to palmar) and the fixation off-loaded with an external fixator. This technique maintained the collateral ligament in-situ and is useful in reconstruction of chondral defects of the PIPJ. Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic)