Fixation of Long Oblique and Spiral Metacarpal Shaft Fractures With Intramedullary Screw and Cerclage Wires

Abstract

Long oblique and spiral metacarpal shaft fractures are length-unstable fracture patterns susceptible to malrotation and shortening. We expand the use of intramedullary screw fixation for traditional length-unstable fracture patterns including long oblique and spiral with cerclage wire augmentation. Surgical technique of intramedullary screws for long oblique and spiral metacarpal shaft fractures, augmented with cerclage wires, is described. Case series of patients who underwent this technique over a 3-year period from 2 surgeons at a single institution were evaluated. The inclusion criteria included patients who underwent this technique with long oblique or spiral metacarpal shaft fractures. The exclusion criteria included open injuries, and base or neck fractures. A total of 8 patients were included with an average age at surgery 42 years old (range, 25 to 70). Six of the 8 patients achieved full range of motion at the time of final follow-up. One patient had ~5 to 10-degree deficit in both flexion and extension, and the other had 20-degree loss in both flexion and extension. The follow-up averaged 62 days (range, 25 to 144 days). There were no patients with nonunion, malunion, hardware failure, or postoperative fracture subsidence or malrotation. The average time to union was 6.1 weeks (range, 3.5 to 12.4 wks). This hybrid technique expands the use of intramedullary screws to traditional length-unstable fractures including long oblique and spiral patterns. Patients demonstrate return to full range of motion, union approximately in 6 weeks, with minimal complications following this minimally invasive technique.