title: Overview of indications, preferred methods and technical tips for hand fractures from around the world.
abstract: This article presents techniques used by six senior surgeons from different parts of the world. Our commentaries on treating hand fractures are included, together with the methods we use. While non-operative treatment is appropriate and effective for the majority of the hand fractures (including those many practitioners currently treat surgically), we describe how we try to manage difficult cases with less invasive surgical methods. We recommend simple, efficient, non-operative or less invasive operative methods for almost all fractures, except for some open or very complex injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu, China jinbotang@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Blazar
authors.affiliation: The Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giddins
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Dalhousie University, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lalonde
authors.affiliation: Upper Limb Department, Dupuytren Institute, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: The Martin Singer Hand Unit, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solomons
mesh_terms: D005592:Fracture Fixation; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D050276:Hand Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D018579:Patient Selection; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D014143:Traction
keywords: Phalangeal fractures; carpometacarpal joint; distal and proximal interphalageal joint; internal fixation; metacarpal fractures; percutaneous pinning