CORRECTIVE OSTEOTOMY AND LOCAL BONE GRAFTING FOR EXTRA-ARTICULAR MALUNION OF THE PROXIMAL PHALANX

Abstract

Corrective osteotomies are often utilised to treat finger deformities that may occur due to a phalangeal malunion. Rotational or angular malalignment, in addition to shortening of the digit may negatively affect hand function and be aesthetically displeasing. Thorough preoperative examination of the malunion and its associated deformities is crucial in determining the type of osteotomy technique to be used. Osteotomies can create bony defects that need to be filled with bone graft or some type of graft substitute. We describe an opening wedge osteotomy with local cancellous bone graft combined with dual plating to treat a dorsal angular deformity in a proximal phalangeal malunion.