Hemi-hamate arthroplasty versus transarticular Kirschner wire fixation for unstable dorsal fracture-dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint in the hand.

Following the introduction of the hemi-hamate arthroplasty (HHA) technique to our unit, we sought to evaluate the early clinical outcomes achieved with this method of fixation and compare these with simple trans-articular Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation for dorsal fracture dislocations (DFD) of the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ). Ninteen patients underwent fixation of these injuries with either K-wire fixation (12/19) or hemi-hamate bone grafting (7/19) between 2005 and 2011. At a mean follow-up of 14 weeks median arc of movement at the PIPJ was 65° (range 31° to 108°) following HHA and 56° (range 9° to 85°) (p = 0.82) following temporary transarticular K-wire fixation. Median fixed flexion deformity (FFD) was 20° and 15° for hemi-hamate bone grafting and K-wire fixation respectively. Based upon our findings, transarticular K-wire fixation produced equivalent outcomes to HHA for unstable DFD of the PIPJ in the hand.