RESEARCH ARTICLE
Complete Avulsion of the Extensor Mechanism of a Finger with Simultaneous Dislocation of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint
K.C Xarchas*, K Tilkeridis, G Kitsikidou, S.I Pelekas, D.A Verettas
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2009Volume: 3
First Page: 75
Last Page: 77
Publisher ID: TOORTHJ-3-75
DOI: 10.2174/1874325000903010075
Article History:
Received Date: 14/7/2009Revision Received Date: 27/7/2009
Acceptance Date: 4/8/2009
Electronic publication date: 27/8/2009
Collection year: 2009

open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
Abstract
We report a rare case of open dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, associated with simultaneous avulsion of the central band and distal insertion of the extensor mechanism, rapture of the proximal volar plate, and rapture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the PIP joint.
Although isolated IP joint injuries are common, they rarely occur simultaneously in a single finger. Even more rarely are they accompanied by a complete avulsion of the extensor mechanism. Operative restoration of the injured structures is a necessity in order to achieve a good functional outcome.
An initial forceful flexion of the finger resulting to rapture of the extensor apparatus and then followed by finger hyperextension and PIP joint dislocation is our perception of the possible mechanism of this extremely rare injury.