Repair of flexor digitorum profundus avulsions including the palmar plate: a retrospective comparative study of 56 cases

Abstract

We retrospectively reviewed 56 fingers with a type 1 flexor digitorum profundus avulsion (jersey finger) injury. Nineteen fingers were treated with a four-strand pull-out suture technique that did not include the distal palmar plate, and 37 were treated with a six-strand pull-out suture technique that included the distal palmar plate. An early active mobilization regimen was used. At follow-up (mean 13 and 14 months, respectively), total active interphalangeal joint motion was significantly better in the six-strand/palmar plate group, as were the results assessed with the Strickland–Glogovac grading system and patient satisfaction according to the Stark criteria. No repair ruptures occurred in this group versus two ruptures in the four-strand/no-palmar-plate group. We consider that the better results can be attributed to a stronger repair, which facilitated early active mobilization. Level of evidence: III