Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint: A Follow-Up Study of 12 Years After Nonsurgical Treatment of Mallet Finger Fractures.

Purpose: In treatment of mallet finger fractures (MFFs), the aim is to minimize residual extension lag, reduce subluxation, and restore congruency of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint. Failure to do so may increase the risk of secondary osteoarthritis (OA). However, long-term follow-up studies focusing on OA of the DIP joint after an MFF are scarce.