J Korean Fract Soc.  2012 Oct;25(4):317-322. 10.12671/jkfs.2012.25.4.317.

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

• Jung JH
• Lee KH
• Kim YJ
• Lee WJ
• Choi SH

• KMID: 1434073
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2012.25.4.317

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.

Keyword

5th Metacarpal bone; Neck fracture; K-wires; Percutaneous transverse fixation

MeSH Terms

Arm
Follow-Up Studies
Hand
Humans
Neck
Shoulder

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Preoperative anteroposterior and (B) oblique radiographs of the hand of a 30-year-old man, showing a 5th metacarpal neck fracture.

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  Fig. 2 (A) Postoperative anteroposterior and (B) oblique radiographs after fixation with K-wires.

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  Fig. 3 (A) Radiograph anteroposterior and (B) oblique views made 4 weeks postoperatively showing K-wire removal.

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