Antegrade Intramedullary Prebent K-wire Fixation for the 5th Metacarpal Neck Fracture

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate radiological and clinical results of the antegrade intramedullary prebent K-wire fixation for the 5th metacarpal neck fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January, 2006 and December, 2009, 31 patients with displaced neck fracture of the fifth metacarpal who received antegrade intramedullary prebent K-wire fixation were included in this study. Radiological and clinical outcome evaluations were performed. RESULTS: All the fractures were completely united. In the oblique radiographs, the average of preoperative angulation was corrected from 38.9degrees to 4.4degrees. The average difference between postoperative and final follow-up was 1.2degrees. Clinical outcomes were satisfactory except for one patient who had sustained ulnar nerve dorsal branch injury during surgery. CONCLUSION: Antegrade intramedullary prebent K-wire fixation may be preferentially considered as one of the best ways to fix the displaced neck fractures of the fifth metacarpal.