complex fracturedislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the hand results of a modified pins and rubbers traction system we reviewed 13 patients with a complex fracturedislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint of a finger and one patient with a complex fracturedislocation of the interphalangeal joint of thumb we had treated these injuries using a pins and rubbers traction system which had been modified to avoid friction of the pins against the bone during mobilisation of the joint in order to minimise the risk of osteolysis a michigan hand outcome questionnaire was used for subjective assessment the active range of movement arom of the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints and the grip strength were used for objective assessment the mean followup was 34 months 12 to 49 the mean normalised michigan hand outcome score was 84 the mean arom of the proximal interphalangeal joint was 85 degrees and that of the distal interphalangeal joint 48 degrees the mean grip strength was 92 of the uninvolved hand twelve patients have returned to their original occupations there has been no radiological osteolysis or clinical osteomyelitis this modified traction system has given acceptable results with a low rate of complications it is light cheap effective and easy to apply