Surgical treatment of postburn boutonniere deformity.

A new method of surgical treatment of postburn boutonniere deformity was used in 124 fingers of 66 patients. This method includes reconstruction of the lateral band's position of an extensor apparatus and anatomic continuity of a central band. Before tendon plasty, passive movements in a proximal interphalangeal joint are restored and contracture of others joints is released. If the soft tissue of the digital back is affected, tendon grafts are covered with a groin pedicled flap. With this method we could restore active movements in the proximal interphalangeal joint in 89.2 percent of the patients and avoid fusion or amputation. The failures were connected with serious intrajoint changes.