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[Elastic stable intramedullary nailing of hand bones. ECMES even with the hand]

S Lallemand1, A de Jesse Levas

  • 1Clinique ambulatoire, centre médical de Mamao BP 141008, 98701 Arue, Polynésie française. slallemand@cmm.pf

Chirurgie De La Main
|July 16, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Elastic intra-medullary nailing (ECMES) is effective for hand bone fractures in children. This technique promotes rapid functional recovery with minimal scarring, making it suitable for diaphyseal, metaphyseal, and epiphyseal fractures.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedic surgery
  • Pediatric orthopedics
  • Traumatology

Context:

  • Traditional methods for hand fractures can lead to complications like scarring and adhesions.
  • Elastic intra-medullary nailing, a technique developed by Metaizeau for pediatric femur fractures, has not been widely applied to hand bone fixation.
  • Evaluating the efficacy of ECMES for hand fractures is crucial for improving pediatric orthopedic practices.

Purpose:

  • To assess the applicability and outcomes of elastic intra-medullary nailing (ECMES) for treating fractures of the bones of the hand in children.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of ECMES in achieving bone union and functional recovery.
  • To compare the results of ECMES with traditional fixation methods in terms of complications and patient outcomes.

Summary:

  • A retrospective review of 43 pediatric patients with hand fractures treated with ECMES between 1995 and 1999 was conducted.
  • Bone fixation was achieved using single or double pre-stressed pins, with material removal varying from 35 days to 4.5 months.
  • Forty-eight patients achieved complete recovery of joint range of motion, with minimal complications reported, including one skin necrosis, one delayed healing, one infection, and one mal-union.

Impact:

  • ECMES is suitable for diaphyseal, metaphyseal, and epiphyseal fractures of the hand bones.
  • The technique's minimally invasive nature results in reduced scarring and adhesions.
  • ECMES facilitates rapid functional recovery, offering a promising alternative for pediatric hand fracture management.
Abstract

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