External fixation of metacarpal and phalangeal fractures

External fixation is rarely employed in the treatment of hand fractures, and few reports describing this technique have been published. This is a report on 26 patients with 30 hand fractures (19 metacarpal and 11 phalangeal) treated by closed reduction and external fixation. The fixation consisted of percutaneous and transversely applied Kirschner wires that were fixed externally with methylmethacrylate rods. Active range of motion exercises were started 1 week after reduction with the external fixator in place. Percentage return of total range of motion in phalangeal fractures varied from 66% to 98% (mean, 84%), and in metacarpal fractures it varied from 77% to 100% (mean, 96%).