Non-union rates and complications after elective interphalangeal joint arthrodesis of the hand : a cohort study of 366 arthrodeses in 289 patients
(2026) In Acta Orthopaedica 97. p.659-664- Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Interphalangeal joint arthrodesis of the hand is a common procedure, but data on outcomes and complications is limited. We aimed to determine the non-union rate, evaluate risk factors for non-union, and investigate the frequency and distribution of complications across different fixation methods.
METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all interphalangeal joint arthrodeses performed between 2014 and 2022. Union and non-union were defined clinically and/or radiographically. Potential risk factors for non-union were evaluated by logistic regression with cluster-robust standard errors accounting for clustering of multiple arthrodeses within patients.
RESULTS: After exclusions, 366 arthrodeses in 289... (More)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Interphalangeal joint arthrodesis of the hand is a common procedure, but data on outcomes and complications is limited. We aimed to determine the non-union rate, evaluate risk factors for non-union, and investigate the frequency and distribution of complications across different fixation methods.
METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all interphalangeal joint arthrodeses performed between 2014 and 2022. Union and non-union were defined clinically and/or radiographically. Potential risk factors for non-union were evaluated by logistic regression with cluster-robust standard errors accounting for clustering of multiple arthrodeses within patients.
RESULTS: After exclusions, 366 arthrodeses in 289 patients with ≥ 2 years of follow-up were analyzed. The median age was 63 years (interquartile range [IQR] 57-72) among women and 58 years (IQR 41-69) among men. Non-union occurred in 20 of 366 arthrodeses (5.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.6-8.3). Men had higher odds of non-union than women, but the difference was not statistically significant (OR 2.43, CI 0.98-6.01); no other characteristic was associated with non-union. Hardware-related complications were frequent, particularly following fixation with K-wires and cerclage, and resulted in hardware removal in 47% of cases. Other complications included superficial infections in 7% of cases, deep infections in 4%, and malunion in 4%.
CONCLUSION: Elective interphalangeal joint arthrodesis was associated with a non-union rate of 5.5% (CI 3.6-8.3) and few major complications; however, hardware-related problems were frequent and commonly hardware removal was required.
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- author
- Lindberg, Karl LU ; Sand-Uhlén, Hanna ; Clementson, Martin LU ; Tägil, Magnus LU ; Raina, Deepak Bushan LU and Brogren, Elisabeth LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-09-14
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Humans, Female, Arthrodesis/adverse effects, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Male, Finger Joint/surgery, Postoperative Complications/epidemiology, Aged, Risk Factors, Adult, Hardware Removal, Fractures, Ununited/epidemiology
- in
- Acta Orthopaedica
- volume
- 97
- pages
- 659 - 664
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:42734135
- ISSN
- 1745-3682
- DOI
- 10.2340/17453674.2026.46627
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 00a9c7a7-4615-4abf-9bcf-48cf9edb49bf
- date added to LUP
- 2026-09-15 18:29:47
- date last changed
- 2026-09-16 08:12:11
@article{00a9c7a7-4615-4abf-9bcf-48cf9edb49bf,
abstract = {{<p>BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Interphalangeal joint arthrodesis of the hand is a common procedure, but data on outcomes and complications is limited. We aimed to determine the non-union rate, evaluate risk factors for non-union, and investigate the frequency and distribution of complications across different fixation methods.</p><p>METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all interphalangeal joint arthrodeses performed between 2014 and 2022. Union and non-union were defined clinically and/or radiographically. Potential risk factors for non-union were evaluated by logistic regression with cluster-robust standard errors accounting for clustering of multiple arthrodeses within patients.</p><p>RESULTS: After exclusions, 366 arthrodeses in 289 patients with ≥ 2 years of follow-up were analyzed. The median age was 63 years (interquartile range [IQR] 57-72) among women and 58 years (IQR 41-69) among men. Non-union occurred in 20 of 366 arthrodeses (5.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.6-8.3). Men had higher odds of non-union than women, but the difference was not statistically significant (OR 2.43, CI 0.98-6.01); no other characteristic was associated with non-union. Hardware-related complications were frequent, particularly following fixation with K-wires and cerclage, and resulted in hardware removal in 47% of cases. Other complications included superficial infections in 7% of cases, deep infections in 4%, and malunion in 4%.</p><p>CONCLUSION: Elective interphalangeal joint arthrodesis was associated with a non-union rate of 5.5% (CI 3.6-8.3) and few major complications; however, hardware-related problems were frequent and commonly hardware removal was required.</p>}},
author = {{Lindberg, Karl and Sand-Uhlén, Hanna and Clementson, Martin and Tägil, Magnus and Raina, Deepak Bushan and Brogren, Elisabeth}},
issn = {{1745-3682}},
keywords = {{Humans; Female; Arthrodesis/adverse effects; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Male; Finger Joint/surgery; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology; Aged; Risk Factors; Adult; Hardware Removal; Fractures, Ununited/epidemiology}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{09}},
pages = {{659--664}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{Acta Orthopaedica}},
title = {{Non-union rates and complications after elective interphalangeal joint arthrodesis of the hand : a cohort study of 366 arthrodeses in 289 patients}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/17453674.2026.46627}},
doi = {{10.2340/17453674.2026.46627}},
volume = {{97}},
year = {{2026}},
}