Comparison of New Suture Anchor Technique for Bony Mallet Injury Versus Conservative Treatment

Conservative Management Equally Effective to New Suture Anchor Technique for Acute Mallet Finger Deformity: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03228849

Enrollment

Registered

2017-07-25

Start date

2013-06-30

Completion date

2015-07-31

Last updated

2017-07-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Finger Fracture, Finger Injuries, Finger Mallet

Keywords

Bony mallet injury, Anchor suture, Conservative treatment, DIP joint

Brief summary

This study aims to compare conservative treatment versus a new suture anchor technique for bony mallet finger in 29 patients.

Detailed description

This study aims to compare conservative treatment versus a new suture anchor technique for bony mallet finger in 29 patients who presented to investigators' clinic between 2013 and 2015. Patients were randomly assigned to conservative or surgical treatment groups. Patients in the conservative group were followed with immobilization with aluminum splint and physical therapy. Patients in the surgical group were treated with investigators' new surgical suture anchor technique and then received physical therapy. The patients were followed for 12 months. Primary study outcomes were extension deficit, days to return to work and DIP flexion.

Interventions

PROCEDURESuture anchor technique

Suture anchors were used to attach bony fragment. On week 6, patients were then started on physical therapy for 2 weeks.

PROCEDUREConservative Treatment

The injured finger was immobilized in an aluminium splint for 6 weeks. Patients were then started on physical therapy for 2 weeks.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Intervention model description

Patients were randomly assigned to surgical or conservative groups. After 6 weeks patients in both groups were started on the same rehabilitation protocol.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Wehbe Schneider type 1 - 2 and type A - B fractures * ability to provide closed reduction * patients' voluntariness

Exclusion criteria

* Wehbe Schneider type C and type 3 fractures

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Extension deficit	12 months	The inability to actively extend DIP joint to 0 degrees.
DIP flexion	12 months	The maximum angle of flexion at DIP joint
Days to return to work	Starting from the date of the start of treatment until patients returns to work, assessed up to 12 months	Time to return to work

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026