Clinical outcomes of operative repair of complete rupture of the proximal interphalangeal joint collateral ligament: Comparison with non-operative treatment

• Published in: Acta orthopaedica et traumatologica turcica Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 44 - 48
• Main Authors: Lee, Seoung Joon, Lee, Jun Hee, Hwang, In Cheul, Kim, Joon Kuk, Lee, Jung Il
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkey Elsevier B.V 01.01.2017; Turkish Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology; AVES
• Subjects: Adult; Collateral Ligaments - diagnostic imaging; Collateral Ligaments - injuries; Collateral Ligaments - surgery; Conservative Treatment - adverse effects; Conservative Treatment - methods; dislocation; Female; Finger Injuries - diagnosis; Finger Injuries - physiopathology; Finger Injuries - therapy; Finger Joint - diagnostic imaging; Finger Joint - physiopathology; Humans; Joint Deformities, Acquired - diagnosis; Joint Deformities, Acquired - etiology; Joint Deformities, Acquired - physiopathology; Joint Deformities, Acquired - prevention & control; Joint Instability - diagnosis; Joint Instability - etiology; Male; Original; Orthopedic Procedures - adverse effects; Orthopedic Procedures - methods; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Pain - diagnosis; Pain - etiology; Pain Measurement - methods; PIP collateral ligament; Proximal interphalangeal joint; Radiography - methods; Range of Motion, Articular; Recovery of Function; Republic of Korea; Retrospective Studies; Surgical repair; Suture anchor; Trauma Severity Indices; PIP collateral ligament; Suture anchor; dislocation; Proximal interphalangeal joint; Surgical repair
• ISSN: 1017-995X; 2589-1294
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aott.2016.12.002

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of non-operative treatment and operative repair of grade III injuries with complete rupture of the collateral ligament of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. Seventeen patients with grade III injuries with at least 6 months of follow-up were included. Seven patients underwent non-operative treatment and 10 patients underwent operative treatment. We evaluated the following clinical outcomes after treatment: 1) range of motion of the PIP and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints, 2) joint stability, 3) pain score, and 4) amount of fusiform deformity of the PIP joint. There was no instability in the lateral stress test in either group. The ranges of motion of the PIP and DIP joints were not statistically different between the two groups at final follow-up. However, the ranges of motion recovered more quickly in the operative group than the non-operative group within the first 3 months after treatment. Patients in the operative group had less pain and better cosmetic appearance of the PIP joint. Our results suggest that operative repair of the PIP collateral ligament can provide good joint stability, rapid functional recovery, and minimize fusiform deformity of the PIP joint. Level III, Therapeutic study.