title: Return to play following metacarpal fractures in football players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metacarpal fractures are common in football players and lead to time away from competition, but current operative treatment data is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine demographics and outcomes of football players who underwent operative fixation for metacarpal fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review from 2009 to 2012 of any football player surgically treated at one institution for a metacarpal fracture. Charts were reviewed for player position, level of competition, mechanism of injury, return to play, postoperative bracing, and re-fracture event. Current information was obtained via phone interviews with the patient and their athletic trainers. Fractures were classified by radiographic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty injuries in ten high school players, nine college players, and one recreational player were identified. The most common injured position was wide receiver (six cases) followed by defensive back (five cases). Most injuries occurred through player-to-player contact (12 cases). The long finger (11 cases) was most commonly involved metacarpal. Two players had multiple metacarpal fractures. The most common location was mid-diaphyseal (15 cases). The mean return to play for all in-season athletes was 6.3 days (range 1-21). Protective splints were used for an average of 21 days (range 14-36). All athletes returned to their preinjury level of play without recurrence of fracture or wound complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Football players who required surgical fixation of a metacarpal fracture demonstrated an efficient return to play, including in-season players with use of protective bracing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series, Level of evidence, IV.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, 1313 13th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205 USA.
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Etier
authors.affiliation: American Sports Medicine Institute, 833 St. Vincents Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205 USA.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Scillia
authors.affiliation: American Sports Medicine Institute, 833 St. Vincents Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205 USA.
authors.forename: Darin D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Tessier
authors.affiliation: American Sports Medicine Institute, 833 St. Vincents Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205 USA.
authors.forename: Kyle T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Aune
authors.affiliation: American Sports Medicine Institute, 833 St. Vincents Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205 USA ; Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics Center, 805 St. Vincents Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205 USA.
authors.forename: Benton A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Emblom
authors.affiliation: American Sports Medicine Institute, 833 St. Vincents Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205 USA ; Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics Center, 805 St. Vincents Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205 USA.
authors.forename: Jeffery R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Dugas
authors.affiliation: American Sports Medicine Institute, 833 St. Vincents Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205 USA ; Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics Center, 805 St. Vincents Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205 USA.
authors.forename: E Lyle
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Cain
keywords: Bracing; Football players; Metacarpal fractures; Operative; Return to play