Management of Proximal Phalangeal Fractures of the Hand Using Finger Nail Traction and a Digital Splint: A Prospective Study of 43 Cases

Phalanges are the most common sites for fractures in the hand.1,2) If not managed properly, these apparently minor fractures can result in long lasting deformity due to reduc-tion in the range of motion in the adjacent joints.3) The annual incidence of phalangeal fractures is 2.9%.3) They are more common in the male age group 20-29 years.3-7) Proximal phalangeal fractures constitute about 13 % of all hand fractures.4) Various mechanisms have been reported in literate to cause these fractures. The most common mechanisms include road traffi c accidents, industrial inju-ries, falls and sport related injuries.3,4) Background: Proximal phalangeal fractures are common fractures of the hand. The fractures are diffi cult to treat because of vicinity of two important joints and crossing long tendons. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effi cacy of nail traction technique in the management of proximal phalangeal fractures of the hand. Methods: Patients (n=43) with proximal phalangeal fractures were treated by nail traction and evaluated prospectively. We as