Four patients with chronic mallet finger were treated by tenodermodesis (Iselin 1977). The patients ranged in age from 27 to 41 (average 33). The average interval from the injury to operation was 37 months.
The results were satisfactory in two cases but unsatisfactory in two. Cause of failure in the first case was delayed wound healing which probably due to to much resection of the tissues and in the second case, too early removal of splint.
We prefer K-wire fixation of the DIP joint for 3 weeks and additional external splinting for 5 weeks after the operation.
