[Intramedullary nailing of distal mid-hand fractures--technique, instruments, case reports]

Dislocation and instability of distal metacarpal fractures necessitate open reduction and stable fixation. Several methods of internal fixation have been described, but all of them are technically difficult. Intramedullary pinning from proximal to distal, first described by Foucher in 1976, is a dynamically stable operation method and easy to perform. New instruments and the newly developed pin have been constructed and adapted to the operation method. All is kept as technically straightforward as possible. Demonstration of the handling and clinical cases are described, and advantages of the procedure emphasized.