D.I.P. ii

A prospective trial of dislocations of the interphalangeal joints of fingers treated by elastic double-finger bandage showed good final results with an almost normal range of motion. The method is found pleasant by the patient, being hygienic and causing no kind of skin reaction. Journal of Hand Surgery (British Volume, 1990) 15B: 66-67 Although various methods for treatment of dislocations of the interphalangeal joints of the fingers have been proposed, no optimum treatment has been found. Usually, the dislocation is treated by immobilisation for two or three weeks (Stewart, 1963; Kuczynski, 1968; Sprague, 1975; Hindley, 1989). We report a group of patients treated with a double-finger bandage in which it is possible to flex and extend the finger to some extent. Material and methods From February 1981 to December 1983,24 patients with dislocations of the interphalangeal joints of the fingers were treated. Three patients could not participate in the follow-up, but the remaining 21 patients were reviewed 30-63 months after injury (median: 51 months). There were 18 men and three women, with a median age of 28 years (range 5-64 years). Twelve P.I.P. joints and nine D.I.P. joints were injured (Table 1). The non-dominant hand was affected in ten cases. Eleven injuries were caused by sports, six occurred at work and four at home. All dislocations were closed and dorsal. In five patients, X-rays showed small avulsions from the dorsal part of the proximal bone. Fig. 1 The washable elastic double-finger bandage