Surgical Exposure of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint.

Abstract

There are 3 main surgical approaches to the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint; dorsal, volar, and lateral and several described modifications to these main approaches. Historically, the dorsal approach has been the standard for the most common procedures of the PIP joint. The volar approach is advantageous for surgical interventions requiring access to the volar plate. It spares the central slip insertion from possible disruption, as does the lateral approach. This article describes the surgical approaches to the PIP joint, explains the rationale for choosing each approach, and discusses some of the most common complications.