Treatment of stale fractures of the neck of the metacarpal bones with an external fixation rod

Abstract

In 32 patients with closed old metacarpal bone neck fractures the treatment by ligamentotaxis type was performed using external rod fixation device. Fracture consolidation was achieved in all cases. Preoperatively the displacement angle ranged from 50 to 20 (mean 35), prior to the device disassembling the displacement angle varied from 25 to 5 (mean 5). During fixation the displacement increased in one patient only.