Abstract:

BACKGROUND: With metacarpal and phalangeal fractures being more common clinical cases, surgical treatment with mini-plate fixation and Kirschner wire are the most widely used. How to rational use of internal fixation in treatment of metacarpal and phalangeal fracture according to the fracture site, type and so on in order to achieve the best efficacy is very important.
OBJECTIVE: To compare retrospectively the treatment efficacies between Kirschner wire and mini-plate internal fixation for metacarpal and phalangeal fractures to provide clinical guidance.
METHODS: Fifty-two patients with 74 Kirschner wire internal fixation and 38 patients with 49 mini-plate internal fixation were followed up. All patients were grouped and compared within the metacarpal, proximal phalanx and middle phalanx fracture. Healing period, functional recovery and situation of wound infection were evaluated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Mini-plate internal fixation is superior in the treatment of metacarpal fractures. Kirschner wire is better in the treatment of proximal phalanx, and favorites to functional recovery of distal and proximal phalanx head fracture. Kirschner wire should be selected for the treatment of phalanx fracture whereas Kirschner wire is superior for certain kinds of injuries such as distal phalanx fracture, intra-articular fractures, and severe comminuted fractures.