Case Report: Bridge Plating for Unstable PIP Fracture Dislocation

Document Type : CASE REPORT

Authors

1 Department of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA

2 Department of Orthopedics, Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Abstract

Proximal interphalangeal (PIP) fracture-dislocation is a relatively common injury that results from “jamming” a finger.
Treatment hinges on the degree of articular surface involvement, which determines stability of the joint. For unstable
injuries, a variety of surgical interventions have been described including extension block pinning, open reduction internal
fixation, volar plate arthroplasty, static or dynamic external fixation, and hemi-hamate reconstruction. We present the
case of an unstable, subacute ring finger PIP dorsal fracture dislocation for which the above options were not possible or
desirable to the patient.
We performed temporary bridge plate fixation of the joint, based on the success of a similar procedure used to treat
comminuted and unstable distal radius fractures.
The procedure allowed immediate return to work, which was the patients’ primary goal, and resulted in a reasonable shortterm
outcome, similar to other mentioned procedures.
Temporary bridge plate fixation can be considered among treatment choices for PIP fracture dislocation when other, more
established options are not possible or desirable.
Level of evidence: IV

Keywords


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Volume 8, Issue 6
November and December 2020
Pages 739-743
  • Receive Date: 22 August 2019
  • Revise Date: 23 January 2020
  • Accept Date: 25 January 2020