Abstract
Three hundred nine digits from 290 patients which had sustained fractures of the distal phalanx were treated at the Department of Orthopaedics, Showa University, from 1990 through 1995. We analyzed the relationship between satisfactory cure and the cause of fracture, condition of fracture at trauma, location, direction of the fracture line, method of treatment, bone healing, period of treatment, and functional disturbance. Two hundred fifty-three patients were male and 37 were female. Forty-four fractures showed an absence of healing. Seventeen fractures required surgical treatment. Absence of healing is a result of the type of fracture and poor primary care. Appropriate primary care for fractures of the distal phalanxes most important.
