title: Bennett's fracture: a medium to long-term review.
abstract: Seventy-six patients who had sustained Bennett's fractures before 1985 comprised the patient base. Of these, 21 could be contacted and were reviewed at an average of 7 years 7 months after fracture to determine the effect of the quality of reduction on clinical and radiological outcome. Those cases that healed with up to 1 mm of fracture displacement were found to have superior results to cases where the reduction was less accurate. However even in those cases where a good reduction was not achieved the results were generally satisfactory with only one of 76 patients being known to have required a subsequent fusion of the first carpo-metacarpal joint. The subjective results in most patients had not deteriorated with time. It is recommended that a reduction with less than 1 mm displacement of the fracture be achieved in cases of Bennett's fracture. The particular technique by which the reduction is achieved and held is immaterial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Wellington School of Medicine, New Zealand.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Thurston
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dempsey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000293:injuries*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*