Subcapital phalangeal fractures in children: A retrospective review

Abstract

Introduction: Phalangeal neck fractures represent a subset of pediatric hand injuries which pose challenges to the treating physician. The aim of this study was to understand which radiographic or clinical variables were associated with the need for closed reduction and percutaneous pinning or were associated with the need for open reduction internal fixation. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on pediatric patients treated for subcapital phalangeal neck fracture of the middle or proximal phalanx between 2009 and 2014. Non-operative and operative groups (open reduction internal fixation, closed reduction percutaneous pinning) compared displacement and angulation of the distal fragment at the time of initial injury, displacement, and angulation of the distal fragment at the time of final follow-up, mechanism of injury, delays in treatment, time to union, and rate of complications. Results: One hundred seventy seven patients met eligibility criteria for the review. Average age was 9.1 years for the surgical group and 8.5 years for the non-surgical group. Time to union was significantly higher for the surgery group (53 vs 30 days, p < 0.001). The degree of sagittal plane translation and sagittal angulation were predictive factors for surgical treatment. Sagittal plane angulation was higher in the surgical group (26.5° vs 9°, p < 0.001). A delay in treatment with subsequent surgery was not predictive of a need for open reduction internal fixation over closed reduction percutaneous pinning ( p = 0.19). Final sagittal angulation was corrected to a median of zero, an eight degree difference from the non-surgical group ( p = 0.002). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a strong correlation between initial sagittal plane angulation and a need for surgery. A longer time to union and decreased range of motion may be expected in patient's requiring operative intervention. Delay in treatment was not associated with open reduction over closed reduction percutaneous pinning within the surgical group.