Are there concepts in treatment of metacarpale fractures? Own results and a review of the literature of last 12 years

As the treatment of metacarpal fractures is today still a controversial subject, we conducted an analysis of the literature in order to present the different therapy guidelines, indications, and their results. The data from the follow-up of 1602 patients was taken from literature which dated from 1 January 1984 to 31 March 1996. A total of 522 patients who underwent surgery received K-wires, screws or external minifixateur. The conservative approaches ranged from immobilization to various methods of mobilization with different aids or without fixation of the fracture. The mobilization in a brace provided good to excellent results in 95 % of the cases; however, the failure rate of therapy was 23 % because of local bruises and skin necrosis (3 %). The mobilization with handcast, tape etc. attained good to excellent results in 94 % of the cases. Here, no complications occurred. Both the immobilization treatment and the surgery provided good to excellent results in 85 % of the cases. The reposition of fractures of the fifth metacarpal was successful in only 15 % of the cases. Fractures with dislocations below 30 °, a shortening of less than 5 mm, no rotational displacement or that below 10 °, no articular incongruency, and no relevant soft tissue trauma do not need surgery according to our results and should be treated with early mobilization as suggested by the survey. Beyond these limits a primary surgical therapy is justified. The immobilization of metacarpal fractures over a period of more than 3–4 weeks is not necessary.