Distraction Arthroplasty in an Osteochondral Defect of the Middle Finger in a Juvenile Patient

A 13-year-old female patient visited our hospital with a painful distal interphalangeal joint and deformity on her right middle finger. Initial plain radiographs uncovered ulnar-sided subluxation of the distal interphalangeal joint of the right middle finger, and an osteochondral defect was also noted at the articular surface of the distal and middle phalanges. We decided to attempt distraction arthroplasty with an external fixator. Finally postoperative 12-month follow-up plain radiographs showed complete osteochondral regeneration and phalangeal alignment. To our knowledge, this is the first report to assess the use of a distraction arthroplasty concept for treating an osteochondral defect in the finger.