Retrospective analysis of Intramedullary K-Wire fixation of Metacarpal Fractures

The majority of fractures of the metacarpal bones occur at a young age.Most of thetimes these metacarpal fractures can be treated conservatively in a POP slab(cock up slab)producing good functional results.Surgery was indicated in patients with palmar dislocation of >30°and shortening of >5 mm.Our study aimed to evaluate the clinical results of all metacarpal fracturestreated surgically by intramedullary Kirschner-wire fixation presented in our hospital.Materials andMethods: It was a retrospective study in which we included 50 patients with metacarpalfractures(both open andclosed) that came in our hospital, treated surgically by closed reduction andwere fixed with two intramedullary k-wires. Result: K-wires were removed after 4 weekspostoperatively,under local anaesthesia in the OPD. Metacarpal joint functions (flexion, extension,rotation) were clinically followed up in all patients, on the median periodof6 months (3 months to 9months). In our study, we found in all patients,flexion and extension were normal on bothsides.Conclusion: Closed reduction and intramedullary k-wire fixation of metacarpal bone fracturesproduce good functional results in the longterm. We found a very low rate of complication and thusrecommendthis surgical method for the stabilization of all these types of fractures.