title: Comparison of methods of skeletal fixation for severely injured digits.
abstract: Our objective is to compare the results of three different methods of osteosynthesis used in severely injured digits, namely the K-wire group, the K-wire & Wire-loop group and the Plate & Screws group. The results of 38 patients with 50 severely injured fingers managed between 1994 and 2000 were reviewed. Majority of them had serious injury caused by electric-saw and Zone III was the most common level of injury using Biemer's classification. Using the scoring system of Nakamura and Tamai, excellent and good results were obtained in 59.5% of the patients. The rate of bony complications was different among the three methods of osteosynthesis though the final functional outcomes were comparable. The rate of bony complications in this series was 20.4%, which included non-union (7), migration of K-wires (2) and infection (1). All occurred in K-wire and K-wire & Wire-loop groups. Plate & Screws, therefore, is the preferred method of bony fixation if further operation for non-union is to be avoided. This is more so for the proximal injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Hi-Shan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Lok-Yan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Lan-Fong
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Tak-Hing
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Wing-Cheung
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012092:Replantation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome