Comparison of low-profile locking plate fixation versus antegrade intramedullary nailing for unstable metacarpal shaft fractures––A prospective comparative study

Injury ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 2252-2258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soo Min Cha ◽  
Hyun Dae Shin ◽  
Yun Ki Kim
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Intramedullary Nailing ◽  
Locking Plate ◽  
Plate Fixation ◽  
Locking Plate Fixation ◽  
Shaft Fractures ◽  
Low Profile ◽  
Metacarpal Shaft ◽  
Prospective Comparative Study

scholarly journals Bone plate fixation ability on the dorsal and lateral sides of a metacarpal shaft transverse fracture

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yung-Cheng Chiu ◽  
Cheng-En Hsu ◽  
Tsung-Yu Ho ◽  
Yen-Nien Ting ◽  
Ming-Tzu Tsai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Strength ◽  
Locking Plate ◽  
Plate Fixation ◽  
Shaft Fracture ◽  
Bone Plate ◽  
Lateral Side ◽  
Lateral Plate ◽  
Fracture Force ◽  
Shaft Fractures ◽  
Metacarpal Shaft

Abstract Background Metacarpal shaft fractures are a common hand trauma. The current surgical fixation options for such fractures include percutaneous Kirschner wire pinning and nonlocking and locking plate fixation. Although bone plate fixation, compared with Kirschner wire pinning, has superior fixation ability, a consensus has not been reached on whether the bone plate is better placed on the dorsal or lateral side. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fixation of locking and regular bone plates on the dorsal and lateral sides of a metacarpal shaft fracture. Materials and methods Thirty-five artificial metacarpal bones were used in the experiment. Metacarpal shaft fractures were created using a saw blade, which were then treated with four types of fixation as follows: (1) a locking plate with four locking bicortical screws on the dorsal side (LP_D); (2) a locking plate with four locking bicortical screws on the lateral side (LP_L); (3) a regular plate with four regular bicortical screws on the dorsal side (RP_D); (4) a regular plate with four regular bicortical screws on the lateral side (RP_D); and (5) two K-wires (KWs). All specimens were tested through cantilever bending tests on a material testing system. The maximum fracture force and stiffness of the five fixation types were determined based on the force–displacement data. The maximum fracture force and stiffness of the specimens with metacarpal shaft fractures were first analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s test. Results The maximum fracture force results of the five types of metacarpal shaft fracture were as follows: LP_D group (230.1 ± 22.8 N, mean ± SD) ≅ RP_D group (228.2 ± 13.4 N) > KW group (94.0 ± 17.4 N) > LP_L group (59.0 ± 7.9 N) ≅ RP_L group (44.5 ± 3.4 N). In addition, the stiffness results of the five types of metacarpal shaft fracture were as follows: LP_D group (68.7 ± 14.0 N/mm) > RP_D group (54.9 ± 3.2 N/mm) > KW group (20.7 ± 5.8 N/mm) ≅ LP_L group (10.6 ± 1.7 N/mm) ≅ RP_L group (9.4 ± 1.2 N/mm). Conclusion According to our results, the mechanical strength offered by lateral plate fixation of a metacarpal shaft fracture is so low that even KW fixation can offer relatively superior mechanical strength; this is regardless of whether a locking or nonlocking plate is used for lateral plate fixation. Such fixation can reduce the probability of extensor tendon adhesion. Nevertheless, our results indicated that when lateral plate fixation is used for fixating a metacarpal shaft fracture in a clinical setting, whether the mechanical strength offered by such fixation would be strong enough to support bone union remains questionable.

scholarly journals Comparison of Dorsal Plate Fixation Versus Intramedullary Headless Screw Fixation of Unstable Metacarpal Shaft Fractures

Hand ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eitan Melamed ◽  
Richard M. Hinds ◽  
Michael B. Gottschalk ◽  
Oran D. Kennedy ◽  
John T. Capo
Keyword(s):  
Locking Plate ◽  
Plate Fixation ◽  
Dorsal Plate ◽  
Locking Plates ◽  
Shaft Fractures ◽  
Plate Group ◽  
Metacarpal Shaft ◽  
Load To Failure ◽  
Group 5 ◽  
Group 2

Background: Recently, intramedullary headless screw (IMHS) has shown promise as an alternative to dorsal plate fixation of metacarpal fractures. The purpose of this study was to assess the biomechanical performance of IMHS versus plating. We hypothesized that IMHS fixation provides inferior stability to plating. Methods: Metacarpal fracture model with 3-mm of volar gapping in forty-four human cadaveric metacarpals was created. The specimens were divided into 5 groups: Group 1, 1.5-mm non-locking plate; Group 2, 1.5-mm locking plate; Group 3, 2.0-mm non-locking plate; Group 4, 2.0-mm locking plate; and Group 5, 2.4-mm short cannulated IMHS. A 4-point bending model was used to assess load-to failure (LTF) and stiffness. Results: Mean LTF was 364 ± 130 N for 1.5-mm non-locking plates, 218 ± 94 N for 1.5-mm locking plates, 421 ± 86 N for 2.0-mm non-locking plates, 351 ± 71 N for 2.0-mm locking plates, and 75 ± 20 N for IMHS. Mean stiffness was 91 ± 12 N/mm for 1.5-mm non-locking plates, 110 ± 77 N/mm for 1.5-mm locking plates, 94 ± 20 N/mm for 2.0-mm non-locking plates, 135 ± 16 N/mm for 2.0-mm locking plates, and 55 ± 15 N/mm for IMHS. IMHS demonstrated significantly lower LTF and stiffness than plates. Conclusions: IMHS fixation of unstable metacarpal shaft fractures offers less stability compared to plating when loaded in bending. The LTF and stiffness of IMHS versus plating of metacarpal shaft fractures has not been previously quantified. Our results reveal that IMHS fixation is less favorable biomechanically and should be carefully chosen in regards to fracture stability.

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