Edward Hallarran Bennett: Bennett's Fracture of the Base of the Thumb

Seventeen patients who had suffered a Bennett’s fracture-dislocation have been reviewed with an average follow up of 26 years. All were treated conservatively. At review, only seven patients had symptoms, but all had a decreased range of movement and grip strength. Twelve had a characteristic deformity in the hand. Radiographs showed persistent subluxation of the first carpo-metacarpal joint and marked degenerative changes. We suggest that, in the light of the poor long-term outcome, this injury should not be managed conservatively but by some operative means.

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BENNETT'S FRACTURE: A MEDIUM TO LONG-TERM REVIEW

ANZ Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1111/j.1445-2197.1993.tb00058.x ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 63 (2) ◽

pp. 120-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

A. J. Thurston ◽

S. M. Dempsey

Keyword(s):

Bennett’S Fracture

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A Long-Term Study Following Bennett’s Fracture

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) ◽

10.1016/0266-7681_86_90172-5 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 426-431

Author(s):

S. R. CANNON ◽

G. S. E. DOWD ◽

D. H. WILLIAMS ◽

J. M. SCOTT

Keyword(s):

Dominant Hand ◽

Trapeziometacarpal Joint ◽

Term Study ◽

Long Term Study ◽

Bennett’S Fracture ◽

Varus Angulation

Twenty-five patients with documented Bennett’s Fractures were reviewed five to sixteen years following injury (Mean 9.6 years). The majority of fractures affected the dominant hand and occurred in males. Twenty-two patients were managed conservatively by plaster immobilisation. At review ten patients were asymptomatic and only two had significant symptoms. Examination revealed loss of movement in the trapeziometacarpal joint of the thumb in twenty-one cases. Five of these exhibited malrotation of the thumb. Review of the post reduction radiographs revealed separation of the fragments by 1 mm or more in sixteen patients, but symptoms at follow-up could not be correlated with accuracy of reduction. Twenty-three patients had a varus angulation of the first metacarpal base which could be correlated to the initial post-reduction displacement. There was no correlation with the restriction of movement. Although metacarpal length will only be maintained by reduction of the fracture, there was little evidence that imperfect reduction leads to significant symptomatic arthritis in the long term.

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Long-Term Evaluation of Bennett’s Fracture

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) ◽

10.1016/0266-7681(94)90093-0 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 373-377 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

E. J. F. TIMMENGA ◽

T. J. BLOKHUIS ◽

M. MAAS ◽

E. L. F. B. RAAIJMAKERS

Keyword(s):

Closed Reduction ◽

Open Reduction ◽

Bennett’S Fracture ◽

Wire Fixation ◽

Term Evaluation ◽

Restricted Mobility ◽

Almost All

18 patients with Bennett’s fracture were evaluated after a mean follow-up period of 10.7 years. Treatment consisted of closed reduction and K-wire fixation in seven cases and open reduction with osteosynthesis in 11 cases. Overall, symptoms were few and restricted mobility of the thumb could not be demonstrated. The strength of the affected hand was decreased in all patients regardless of the type of treatment. Osteoarthritis was found to correlate with the quality of reduction of the fracture, but had developed in almost all cases even after exact reduction. Exact reduction, either by the open or closed method, should be the aim of treatment of Bennett’s fracture.

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