title: Closed intramedullary pinning of metacarpal and phalanx fractures.
abstract: The surgical technique for closed intramedullary pinning of metacarpal and phalanx fractures is described. Commonly available 0.045 K-wires are used in a manner similar to Ender or Rush nailing of long bone fractures. This technique avoids impaling soft tissue structures--a drawback to more commonly used percutaneous K-wire techniques--and provides sufficient stability to allow early, protected motion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Missouri, Kansas City.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Carr
mesh_terms: D001858:Bone Nails; D001864:Bone Wires; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D011859:Radiography