Assessing Osteoarthritis Risk After Retrograde Intramedullary Headless Screw Fixation for Metacarpal Fractures: A...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Hand Surgery
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Metacarpal fractures are common hand injuries.
• Retrograde intramedullary headless screws are a modern fixation technique.
• Concerns exist regarding potential long-term joint complications, specifically osteoarthritis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the incidence of osteoarthritic changes after retrograde intramedullary headless screw fixation for metacarpal fractures.
• To assess the long-term safety and efficacy of this surgical technique.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 41 patients treated between 2014-2018.
• Minimum follow-up duration of 72 months (mean 87 months).
• Radiographic and computed tomography evaluation for fracture healing and joint changes.

Main Results:

• No osteoarthritic changes or chondrolysis observed at long-term follow-up.
• Screws occupied an average of 17.5% of the metacarpal head's articular surface without erosion.
• Two early complications (hardware failure, malunion) were unrelated to joint changes.

Conclusions:

• Retrograde intramedullary headless screw fixation is not associated with long-term osteoarthritic changes.
• This technique demonstrates a favorable safety profile for metacarpal fracture treatment over a 6-year period.