Treatment of 5th Metacarpal Neck Fracture Using Percutaneous Transverse Fixation with K-Wires

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic and clinical results of percutaneous transverse fixation with K-wires for 5th metacarpal neck fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2007 and September 2010, 18 patients with a 5th metacarpal neck fracture, who underwent operative treatment, were included in this study. The surgical method was percutaneous transverse fixation using K-wires. We evaluated fracture angulation in oblique radiographs preoperatively, postoperatively, and at final follow-up, and used SPSS to perform statistical analysis. We also performed clinical evaluation using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score. RESULTS: All of the 18 cases were completely united, and in the oblique radiographs, the angulation was corrected from 50.69degrees to 11.68degrees. The average difference between postoperative and final follow-up angulations was 0.14degrees, which was statistically insignificant. Clinically, the DASH score was 1.030 and no complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous transverse fixation using K-wires could be one of the best ways to treat a 5th metacarpal neck fracture because of its simple method and low rate of complications.