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Volume 13 Issue 1 (January) 2024

Original Articles

Surgical management of metacarpal shaft fractures: A prospective study using mini plates and screws
Dr. Raghavendra, Dr. Manjunath Japatti, Dr. Santosh, Dr. Sunil Kumar K R

Background:In unstable fractures (which typically account for less than 5% of hand fractures) where closed treatment techniques result in poor functional results, accurate open reduction and internal fixation of metacarpal fractures are necessary. When utilised in carefully chosen cases, small plates and screws offer firm fixation that enables early joint mobilisation and, as a result, good functional success.Patients and methods: In 25 patients with closed metacarpal shaft fracturestreated with mini plates and screws between December 2017 to December 2019 at Vijayanagara institute of medical sciences Ballari. The functional outcome was assessed using Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score and Visual Analog Score (VAS) over a period of two years in prospective manner.Results:In all cases of metacarpal shaft fractures treated with plate osteosynthesis in our study, there was 100% bone union. In 21 out of 25 cases, or 84% of the patients, the functional outcome was excellent; in 3 out of 25 cases, it was good; and in 1 out of 25 cases, it was bad. A superficial wound infection that two patients experienced resolved with daily dressing changes and antibiotics; this had no bearing on the result.Conclusion:For closed metacarpal shaft fractures, plate and screw fixation is a useful alternative when other fixation modalities are less successful. The stiff, robust fixation offered by plating allows for early mobilisation and produces satisfactory functional outcomes.

 
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