Medisur (Aug 2006)
External minifixation in unstable fractures of the metacarpal
Abstract
Background: External fixation is one of the surgical treatment methods more used in traumatology for its versatility and the care it provides to the soft parts. Objectives: To demonstrate that external minifixation allows obtaining a stable fixation that doesn’t limit the hand functionally and facilitates early rehab. Methods: A descriptive study about 42 patients managed at the orthopaedic service in the time period between February 2000 and February 2004, to whom an unstable metacarpal fracture was diagnosed with surgical treatment criteria. All cases were submitted to reduction and stabilizing of the lesion, using an external minifixator RALCA. Hand rehab began in immediate post surgical state. Results: In our series predominated the male sex (83, 3 %), white skinned (92, 8%), with age groups between 31 and 40 years. Lesions in predominant hands were more frequent (80, 9%), and the direct production mechanism (76, 1%), with prevalence of transversal diaphysial pattern (38%) and short slanting (35, 1%). Consolidation time was considered inside normal limits in the 88% of the sample. The 52, 3% of the patients incorporated to their social active lives without functional limitations.
