Management of fractures of metacarpals and phalanges and associated risk factors for delayed healing.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the type of fractures of metacarpal and phalanges of hand and their treatment plan, investigate the risk factors (infection, segmental bone loss, associated soft tissue injuries) for the development of delayed union of the fracture site.


METHODS
This descriptive study was conducted at Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery Unit, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi. It included 120 patients who attended Accident and Emergency Department with metacarpals and phalanges fractures during August 2005 to January 2006. Severely traumatized patients or patients with amputated hand or digits were excluded. The data was collected through hand injury chart which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Data was analyzed by SPSS version-10.


RESULTS
In 120 patients with 226 fractures of the metacarpals and phalanges male to female ratio was 5:1. Metacarpal fractures were 38.9% and the fracture of the phalanges was 61.1%. Oblique fractures were 47%, transverse 28.3%, comminuted 13.27%, spiral 8.9%, and avulsion fractures were 2.6%. Surgically treated patients were 78.3% while 21.7% were managed conservatively. For fixation of fractures Kirschner wires (K-wire) were used in 89.36% cases, miniplates and lag screw in 4.25% and external fixators in 2.1%. Infection was found in 5 (2.2%) of the total fractures, out of these 2/5 (40%) had developed non union of the fracture site. Bony defect was found in 30 (13.3%) of the total fractures, of these 4/30 (13.3%) developed non union. Associated soft tissue injury was found in 130 (57.5%) and of these 11/130 (8.46%) developed non union.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the fractures of the metacarpals and phalanges were oblique in configuration, followed by transverse fractures. More then 75% of these fractures where treated surgically. K-wiring was the most commonly performed procedure. Infection, segmental bone loss and associated soft tissue injuries were predisposed to non union in small percentage of cases.
Ali
Hyder
H
Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi.
Rafique
Atif
A
Bhatti
Mabroor
M
Ghani
Shahab
S
Sadiq
Moiz
M
Beg
Shehab Afzal
SA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001864:Bone Wires; D005260:Female; D050278:Finger Phalanges / Q000293:injuries*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D017102:Fracture Healing; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050279:Metacarpal Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome