Treatment of tendinous mallet finger deformity with a part of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon.

Abstract

To introduce and evaluate an updated surgical technique for the treatment of tendinous mallet finger deformity. From April 2017 to September 2018, 13 cases of tendinous mallet finger deformity were treated. All patients had zone I extensor tendon rupture, with no residual tendon at the insertion for suture, and no avulsion fracture in the distal phalanx. Extensor tendon insertion reconstruction was realized by suturing the transferred portion of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon with the proximal end of the extensor tendon via a constructed bone tunnel. The treatment efficacy of the enrolled patients was evaluated by using Dargan evaluation criteria post-operatively. All patients were followed up with an average duration of 10.6 months. At the last follow-up, 12 patients showed excellent function recovery and one case had unsatisfactory outcome according to the Dargan evaluation criteria. Satisfactory therapeutic outcome for the treatment of tendinous mallet finger deformity can be achieved by reconstructing extensor tendon insertion using a part of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon, implying that the proposed treatment method is worthy of clinical application.