Subacute or late-presenting unstable osseous mallet finger might be hard to reduce and, therefore, remain subluxed when using the traditional Ishiguro technique. In such cases, we suggest it is best to prioritize correction of joint subluxation over step-by-step adherence to the traditional Ishiguro technique. Specifically, we contend that carrying out the procedure in reverse order typically results in an easier and more stable reduction of both joint and fracture.