Buddy Taping

Buddy taping
This is indicated for closed injuries and for reducible
injuries. After reduction:
• Buddy taping with immediate AROM for
rotatory volar dislocation.
• For collateral ligament injuries buddy taping with
immediate AROM.

• For central slip disruption and volar dislocation,
4 to 6 weeks of PIP extension, splinting followed
by a 2-week daytime dynamic splinting and a
static night splinting. Throughout the period of
splintage, DIP joint should be actively exercised.
• Extension blocks splinting for 3 to 4 weeks for
hyperextension injuries (dorsal dislocation).
Operative Management
Open reduction is indicated for open injuries,
irreducible dislocations and injury to the collateral
ligament of the index finger.
PROXIMAL PHALANX FRACTURES
These are due to direct blow on the dorsum of
fingers.
Salient Features
• Due to the deforming forces of the intrinsic
muscles, transverse and short oblique fractures
of the proximal phalanx angulate dorsally.
• The spiral and long oblique fractures shorten and
rotate rather than angulate.
• Due to the action of FDS, fractures of the middle
phalanx tend to angulate in either direction.
Classifications
• Head fractures—mainly intra-articular.
• Neck and shaft fractures—Extra-articular.
• Base—both extra-articular and intra-articular.
All these fractures could be:
• Minimally displaced but stable.
• Reducible but stable.
• Reducible but unstable.
• Irreducible.
Clinical Features
Pain, swelling, tenderness, deformity of the finger
and loss of finger functions are the usual complaints.
Radiographs
Plain X-ray of the finger AP, lateral and oblique
views helps to make the diagnosis.
Treatment Methods
Nonoperative Treatment
This is indicated for undisplaced and for reducible
but stable extra-articular fractures. The methods
employed are Buddy taping  for
undisplaced fractures and Burkhalter splint for the
rest.