Over a 14-year period, 60 patients (86 toes) underwent resection
arthroplasty of the proximal interphalangeal joint for a
mallet toe deformity. During the same period, 788 hammertoe corrections were performed, for a ratio of 9:1 hammertoe to
mallet toe corrections. Fifty patients (72 toes) were evaluated at an average 55-month follow-up. In 53 toes (73%), the involved toe was longer than the adjacent toes. The second, third, and fourth toes were almost equally involved with a
mallet toe deformity. With a resection
arthroplasty technique, an
arthrodesis of the PIP joint occurred in 52 toes (72%) and a fibrous union occurred in the remaining 20 toes (28%). Overall, 86% of the toes were rated as satisfactory by the patient (P < .001). A slightly lower satisfaction rate (75%) was noted in those toes with a fibrous union. A flexor
tenotomy was performed in 22 toes along with the
mallet toe repair. Acceptable alignment was noted in 96% of toes with a flexor
tenotomy, and in 90% where a
mallet toe repair was performed without a flexor
tenotomy [corrected].
Pain was relieved (97%), correction was well maintained (91%), and patient subjective satisfaction was high (86%) with this procedure. Minor complications occurred in 14% of cases; however, one fourth of these patients still noted a satisfactory result.