title: Percutaneous intramedullary fixation of metacarpal shaft fractures.
abstract: Twenty-two displaced metacarpal shaft fractures in 19 patients were stabilized with multiple intramedullary K-wires. These were inserted percutaneously through a small window in the base of the metacarpal and were buried in the bone. No external splintage was routinely used postoperatively and all patients were encouraged to mobilize their fingers immediately: formal physiotherapy was not usually required. All the fractures that we were able to follow-up united, but the K-wires bent at the fracture site in two instances, producing 20 degrees angular deformities. The buried K-wires had to be removed in one instance as a result of protrusion into the carpometacarpal joint.
authors: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Queen's Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Faraj
authors: T R
authors: TR
authors: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001864:Bone Wires; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000293:injuries*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome