Pilon fracture (hand)
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
d, Campos A, Murphy A, et al. Pilon fracture (hand). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 22 Mar 2025) https://radiopaedia.org/articles/64908
DOI:
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rID:
64908
Article created:
13 Dec 2018,
deleted
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created deleted had no recorded disclosures.
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Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Arlene Campos had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Arlene Campos's current disclosures
Revisions:
6 times, by
5 contributors -
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Systems:
Pilon fractures of the hand are comminuted, intra-articular fractures involving a proximal interphalangeal joint of the hand. The fracture is generally reported to involve the more ulnar digits and the pattern is considered unstable with case reports documenting poor outcomes.
On this page:
Pathology
The injury occurs as a result of compressive axial loading of a digit.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph / CT
Two main geometries of comminution are reported. In the first type there is central impaction within the basal articular surface of the middle phalanx with lateral fragments being splayed in both coronal and sagittal planes. In the second subtype the fracture geometry demonstrates a T or Y type pattern at the base of the middle phalanx.
History and etymology
The term is derived from the Latin word pilum (a "pounder").
References
- 1. Stern P, Roman R, Kiefhaber T, McDonough J. Pilon Fractures of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint. J Hand Surg Am. 1991;16(5):844-50. doi:10.1016/s0363-5023(10)80147-9 - Pubmed
- 2. AO Foundation. Pilon compression fracture. AO Foundation - Minicondylar plate fixation of Pilon compression fracture
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