title: Miniature plates and screws in acute complex hand injury.
abstract: Thirty-six patients with 72 metacarpal and phalangeal fractures with associated injuries to the neurovascular bundle, tendon, soft tissue, or bone following acute complex hand injury were treated with miniature plates and screws and reconstruction of the disrupted and missing structures. The results were judged according to the criteria of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. The overall results were good in 46.3%, fair in 32.2%, and poor in 21.5%. Although traditional wiring techniques are certainly useful in complex hand injuries, internal osteosynthesis with miniature plates and screws has definite indications in cases requiring stable and rigid internal fixation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noordhoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation