Hand function outcome in closed small bone fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation by mini plate or...

No study in literature clearly gives advantage of one method of surgical fixation of fracture over the other in metacarpal and phalangeal bones of hand comparing wider outcome measures.

A randomized controlled trial between closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation or open reduction and internal fixation with mini fragment plates was conducted. A total of 32 patients with 16 in each group were taken in tertiary-level teaching hospital from 2014 to 2016. Four patients lost to follow-up apart from 32 studied. Inclusion criteria were age group 16-60 years, fresh (3 days) closed shaft fractures of metacarpal and phalanges. Outcome evaluated were time to union of fracture, degree of strength achieved measured with dynamometer, DASH scoring, range of motion of hand and each digit.

Both groups were comparable in terms of return to full hand function, union and total range of motion. K wire fixation results were slightly better than plating group in terms of early DASH score and grip strength after fixation.

No modality was found to be superior for fixation of small bone fractures of hand. But K wire being cheaper and without inherent complication of plating like scar and tendon irritation, K wire fixation is preferred over plating in shaft fractures of metacarpal and phalanges.

Level I Therapeutic study.