Eaton classification of volar plate avulsion injury

Last revised by Yuranga Weerakkody ◉ on 12 Nov 2018

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Jha P, Weerakkody Y, Hacking C, et al. Eaton classification of volar plate avulsion injury. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 27 Sep 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-47254

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-47254

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/47254

rID:

47254

Article created:

7 Aug 2016, Praveen Jha

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Praveen Jha had no recorded disclosures.

View Praveen Jha's current disclosures

Last revised:

12 Nov 2018, Yuranga Weerakkody ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.

View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures

Revisions:

6 times, by 3 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal, Trauma

Sections:

Classifications

Synonyms:

Eaton classification
Eaton's classification

The Eaton classification was proposed by Eaton and Malerich in 1980, and presently (time of writing, August 2016) along with Keifhaber-Stern classification, is the most widely accepted classificationof volar plate avulsion injuries ¹.

Knowledge of the orthopedic Eaton classification is practical when reporting volar plate injury of the PIP joint as it influences the decision on management. Treatment is dependent on the following factors:

size of the fragment (<40% of the articular segment)
degree of impaction
direction of the dislocation

Eaton types

Eaton type I: hyperextension mechanism of injury with an avulsion of the volar plate and a longitudinal tear of the collateral ligaments; the opposing joint surface remain congruent
Eaton type II: dorsal dislocation of the PIP joint with avulsion of the volar plate; there is complete tear of the collateral ligament
Eaton type III
- Eaton type IIIa
  - fracture dislocation with an avulsed small fragment <40% of the articular surface
  - dorsal aspect of the collateral ligament remains attached to the middle phalanx
- Eaton type IIIb
  - fracture dislocation with fracture or impaction of the articular surface of more than 40%