title: Locked intramedullary nail: metacarpal geometry study in adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ideal fixation for metacarpal fracture should provide immediate stability to allow early rehabilitation. Locked intramedullary nail may fulfill the need. Metecarpal geometry has to be studied in order to design the locked intramedullaly nail.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study metacarpal geometry in adult cadaver for locked intramedullary nail design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radiographs of metacarpals taken from 50 embalmed adult cadavers were measured for essential parameters for locked intramedullary nail design. Total length, proximal metaphyseal width, distal metaphyseal width, isthmus width and medullary canal width were measured. The parameters were analyzed by descriptive statistic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average total lengths were rangedfrom 44.53 to 65.42 mm. The average metaphyseal widths ofmetacarpal bone were between 11.42 to 16.42 mm. The average medullary canal widths were between 3.05 to 6.74 mm. The extreme small (less than 3 mm) medullary canals were found in index, middle, ring and small metacarpals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study provide crucial preliminary data for locked metacarpal nail design for adult patient.
authors.forename: Chinnakart
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boonyasirikool
authors.forename: Sunyarn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niempoog
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D002102:Cadaver; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050279:Metacarpal Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011859:Radiography