Surgical Modalities of Repair of Intra Articular Fractures of Proximal Interphalangeal Joint: A Meta-analysis

Abstract

he proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of the fingers are extremely important for gripping things with hands, more specifically, what is called the ‘power grip’. Being a hinge joint, the articular surface of the joint and the soft tissue do not permit any lateral movement. Its uniaxial nature allows only a good range of movement in one plane, relying on the more proximal metacarpophalangeal joint for a more varied range of motion such as adduction and abduction. The PIP joint is normally kept in alignment by a soft tissue envelope consisting of joint capsule, the volar plate, collateral ligaments and the central slip. These structures form a tight-fitting ‘box’ with a very narrow joint space (Can, 2007).