SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF FRACTURE AT THE BASE OF THE PROXIMAL PHALANX USING EXTRA-ARTICULAR PERCUTANEOUS K-WIRING WITH THE CONSIDERATION OF SAFE PORTALS: A CASE REPORT

Fracture of the phalanges can be caused by trauma under various circumstances. Most phalangeal fractures are unstable. The common treatment for unstable phalangeal fractures is Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation using the most commonly used technique of extraarticular cross-pinning. Using this technique, a stable fracture can be fixed and early phalanx mobilization can be facilitated. To achieve these goals, the landmarks and safe portals for the insertion of the K-wire to the fracture site of the phalanges must be identified. Here we present the case of a 48-year-old woman with fracture at the base of the proximal phalanx of the left fourth finger. For 3 weeks, she underwent closed reduction and immobilization using the K-wire via the extra-articular cross-pinning technique. After 3 weeks of immobilization using the K-wire, no significant events were observed. After removal of the K-wire, we initiated the rehabilitation program. A desirable range of motion (ROM) was achieved at the metacarpophalangeal joint. The safe portals for the insertion of the K-wire for treating proximal phalanx fractures using the cross-pinning technique must be identified to achieve a desirable ROM. Thus, the extra-articular cross-pinning technique along with the safe portals must be used for treating fractures of the proximal phalanges.