A staged technique for the repair of the traumatic boutonniere deformity.

A step-by-step approach to the systematic management of chronic boutonniere deformity due to trauma is presented. If surgical intervention is necessary, the problem should be approached one step at a time. The following stages are described: stage I, tendolysis of the extensor tendon and freeing of the transverse retinacular ligament; stage II, sectioning of the transverse retinacular ligament; stage III, tendon lengthening of the lateral bands over the middle phalanx; and stage IV, repair of the central extensor tendon. After managing 23 patients according to this plan, we have concluded that it is frequently unnecessary to automatically go through all four stages in treating chronic traumatic boutonniere deformity. We found that 17 patients were successfully managed by some combination of stages I, II, and III, and six patients received adequate treatment with stages I, II, and IV.