title: The use of a moulded metacarpal brace versus neighbour strapping for fractures of the little finger metacarpal neck.
abstract: Seventy-three patients with fractures of the neck of the little finger metacarpal were randomized to treatment with a moulded metacarpal brace or neighbour strapping. Sixty-five of these attended for follow-up at 3 weeks. Both treatment modalities permitted a functional range of movement, but patients treated with the metacarpal brace had significantly less pain than those treated with neighbour strapping, and this facilitated an early return to work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Kettering General Hospital, Kettering, UK. ianjharding@hotmail.com
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Barrington
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001458:Bandages; D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000628:therapy*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000293:injuries*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology