A report of two cases of volar and dorsal fractures of the middle phalanx caused by a basketball.

Abstract

We present two rare cases of volar and dorsal fractures of the middle phalanx at the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ). The first case was a 16-year-old girl. She hurt her middle finger while playing basketball. A lateral radiograph revealed volar and dorsal fractures of the middle phalanx. She underwent external immobilization of the PIPJ in 30 degrees of flexion with a splint for 3 weeks. The fractures healed 7 weeks after the injury with neither tenderness nor limitation of range of motion. The second case was a 16-year-old boy. He injured his index finger while playing basketball, and underwent immobilization of the PIPJ for 3 weeks. At 10 weeks after the injury, the dorsal fracture was almost healed, but the displacement of the volar fragment had worsened. At a 3-year follow-up, the dorsal fragment was healed, but the volar fragment remained in a site of nonunion. However, there was neither residual deformity nor restriction of movement.