A Rare Presentation with Segmental Gap Non-union in Proximal Phalanx Fracture of Thumb in Child: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic injuries of to hand are not uncommon in the pediatric population and most of them are managed by conservative means and rarely surgical intervention required. There is a very rare incidence of delayed union or non-union in these fractures and found a very few numbers of sporadic cases documented in English literature. CASE REPORT: We described delayed presentation of post-traumatic gap non-union of proximal phalanx of thumb in a child who presented with severe disability of hand especially writing and grasping. He was managed as open reduction, tibial strut bone grafting, and internal fixation with crossed Kirchner wire and followed for a period of minimum of 2 years. The fracture united radiologically and healed well clinically, whereas functional outcomes were excellent. There was no difficulty in writing and activity of daily living with operated hand while having comparative cosmetic appearance to other hand. CONCLUSION: Non-union of phalanx fractures are very rare in the pediatric population whereas excellent clinical and functional outcomes can be achieved with adequate stable fixation and autologous bone grafting.