This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by FORD, D. J. Articles by BURKE, F. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by FORD, D. J. Articles by BURKE, F. D. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Fractures of the Metacarpals: Treatment by A. O. Screw and Plate Fixation

From the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derby

Twenty-two patients with 26 fractured metacarpals were treated by internal fixation using A. O. mini-fragment screws and plates. This form of internal fixation was reserved for metacarpal fractures which were multiple, unstable, displaced or rotated. Nine patients bad open fractures, two had divided extensor tendons and four had multiple fractures.

Fractures consistently united without infection or deformity. The mean duration of postoperative immobilization was seven days and mean time off work was six weeks. All but one patient did manual work. No patients had persistent symptoms which caused difficulty with work or sport. Fourteen patients regained full movement. Four had total active movement of 220 degrees or more in the involved ray and 6 patients had total active movement of between 180 and 220 degrees. Restricted movement was present in patients with open fractures and divided extensor tendons or intra-articular fractures of the metacarpal head.

Uniformly satisfactory results were found after mini-screw and plate fixation of metacarpal fractures.

Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume), Vol. 12, No. 1, 1-4 (1987)
DOI: 10.1016/0266-7681(87)90050-7


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?