TREATMENT OF SUBCAPITAL FRACTURES OF THE FIFTH METACARPAL BONE: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMISED COMPARISON BETWEEN FUNCTIONAL TREATMENT AND REPOSITION AND SPLINTING

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of plastic and reconstructive surgery and hand surgery Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 315 - 317
• Main Authors: KUOKKANEN, H. O. M, MULARI-KERÄNEN, S. K, NISKANEN, R. O, HAAPALA, J. K, KORKALA, O. L
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Informa UK Ltd 1999; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bandages; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Diseases of the osteoarticular system. Orthopedic treatment; Female; Fractures, Bone - therapy; Fractures, Closed - therapy; Hand Injuries - therapy; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Male; Medical sciences; Metacarpus - injuries; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Splints; Statistics, Nonparametric; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Treatment Outcome; Human; Positioning; Orthopedic treatment; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Metacarpus; Trauma; Hand; Prospective; Treatment; Disease of the hand; Upper limb; Subcapital fracture; Technique; Comparative study; Splint
• ISSN: 0284-4311; 1651-2073
• DOI: 10.1080/02844319950159299

We did a prospective study to compare the results of treatment of subcapital fractures of the fifth metacarpal bone by closed reduction and splinting or by functional treatment. Twenty-nine consecutive patients were randomly divided into the two treatment groups (functional n = 14, and reposition and splinting n = 15). The results of treatment were satisfactory in both groups. Functionally treated patients recovered their grip force and range of movement of the affected hand a little sooner. All fractures in both groups had united within three months. There were no complications. We conclude that subcapital fractures of the fifth metacarpal bone can successfully be treated without closed reduction and splinting.