(See also Overview of Hand Disorders Overview of Hand Disorders Hand and finger disorders include ganglia, deformities, disorders related to nerves or blood vessels, osteoarthritis, trigger finger, Kienböck disease, and infections. Some other disorders that... read more 
.)
Boutonnière deformity most often results from rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis in which joints, usually including those of the hands and feet, are inflamed, resulting in swelling, pain, and often destruction of joints.... read more 
but can also result from injury (such as deep cuts, joint dislocations Overview of Dislocations A dislocation is complete separation of the bones that form a joint. In subluxation, the bones in a joint are partly out of position. Often, a dislocated joint remains dislocated until it is... read more , or fractures Finger Fractures Common finger fractures include avulsion fractures and crush fractures of the fingertips. When a fingertip is crushed, it is tender and swollen, and the nail may be bluish black and raised up... read more 
) or osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) Osteoarthritis is a chronic disorder that causes damage to the cartilage and surrounding tissues and is characterized by pain, stiffness, and loss of function. Arthritis due to damage of joint... read more 
.
People with rheumatoid arthritis can develop the disorder because they have long-standing inflammation of the middle joint of a finger.
If the deformity is caused by an injury, the injury usually occurs at the base of a tendon (called the middle phalanx extensor tendon). As a result, the middle joint (called the proximal interphalangeal joint) becomes “buttonholed” between the outer bands of the tendon that runs to the end of the finger. That is, the bones of the joint push out through the bands of the tendon like a button through a buttonhole. The deformity may interfere with hand function.
The doctor makes the diagnosis of boutonnière deformity by examining the finger.
When the Fingers Are Abnormally Bent
Some disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and injuries can cause the fingers to bend abnormally. In swan-neck deformity, the joint at the base of the finger bends in (flexes), the middle joint straightens out (extends), and the outermost joint bends in (flexes). In boutonnière deformity, the middle finger joint is bent inward (toward the palm), and the outermost finger joint is bent outward (away from the palm).  |
Treatment of Boutonnière Deformity
A splint
Sometimes surgery
A boutonnière deformity caused by an injury to an extensor tendon (a tendon that pulls the finger up) can usually be corrected with a splint that keeps the middle joint fully extended for 6 weeks. However, the splint will not be effective if scarring and permanent deformities have already developed (usually after many weeks).
When splinting is ineffective, or when boutonnière deformity is due to rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis in which joints, usually including those of the hands and feet, are inflamed, resulting in swelling, pain, and often destruction of joints.... read more , surgery may be needed to improve function.
