Surgical Treatment of Post Traumatic Swan Neck Deformity

• Published in: Orthopedics & Traumatology Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 1004 - 1007
• Main Authors: Kamimoto, Munetada, Hattori, Akinori, Yamamoto, Seishi, Suzuki, Toshiro, Yamamoto, Noriaki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: West-Japanese Society of Orthopedics & Traumatology 1998
• Subjects: oblique retinacular ligament; Swan neck deformity; Thompson's procedure; trauma
• ISSN: 0037-1033; 1349-4333
• DOI: 10.5035/nishiseisai.47.1004

Thompson's surgical procedure was carried out on 4 cases of post traumatic swan neck deformity. The mean time from injury to surgery was 88 months, and that following surgery was 26 months, ranging from 8 months to 6 years. Reconstruction of the oblique retinacular ligament was performed with the palmalis longus tencion used as a free tendon graft. In all the cases, the swan neck deformity was corrected. The mean extension of the PIP joint was 36 degrees before surgery, improving to -4 degrees ranging from -12 to 0 degrees during follow up. The mean extension lag of the DIP joint was 32 degrees, improving to -5 degrees ranging from -21 to 0 degrees during follow-up. Thompson's procedure is useful for correcting such post traumatic swan neck deformity.