FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES FOR TREATMENT OF METACARPAL FRACTURES BY K-WIRES (INTRAMEDULLARY OR TRANSVERSE)

Ali Al Baalbaki*, Ali Yousef and Ghiyas Halloum

ABSTRACT

Objective: comparison of functional results of treatment of metacarpal fractures with intramedullary and transverse k- wires and studying the proximal and distal complications of both methods. Methods: A case control study of 94 patients with hand metacarpal fractures. patients were divided randomly into two groups : group I : patients were treated with titanium elastic nails (tens) intramedullary. group II: patients were treated with transverse k-wires. all patients were followed with clinical and radiological evaluation after surgery, with dash scale values. Results: This study included 94 patients who had 97 fractures, 67% of them were males. Most of the patients were young and the right hand fractures were the most common with 67 patients because the majority of humans are right- handed. Traumatic injuries were the most common cause of fractures 56.7%. Proximal complications had been recorded in 10 patients (6 from group I and 4 from group II). The majority of DASH scale values were excellent in both groups (75 out of 94). Conclusion: both methods were efficient and safe with a little advantage for intramedullary k-wires in metacarpal fractures.

Keywords: Metatarsal Fracture, TENS, Transverse, K-wires.