title: External minifixation for treatment of closed fractures of the metacarpal bones.
abstract: External minifixators were used in the treatment of 63 closed diaphyseal metacarpal bone fractures. A simple half-frame configuration was applied in all the cases. Open reduction was performed in 26%. The mean duration of external fixation was 30 days. There were no cases of nonunion. Anatomical reduction was obtained in 86.6% of the cases. There were no cases of reflex sympathetic dystrophy. The general functional results were very good or good in 96.6%. Open reduction did not significantly alter the final results. External minifixation is usually accepted as a treatment of open metacarpal fractures. Because of the excellent results obtained in our series, we believe that the indications of external minifixation could be enlarged to closed metacarpal bone fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hôpital Erasme, Cliniques Universitaires de Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schuind
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donkerwolcke
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burny
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050279:Metacarpal Bones / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012399:Rotation