Bennett's fracture.

The relationship between the quality of reduction and the occurrence of arthritic changes, symptoms and disability was studied in 41 Bennett's fractures. Excellent position was obtained in five of nine fractures treated by closed reduction and plaster immobilisation, in four of six fractures treated by percutaneous K wire fixation and in 18 of 26 fractures treated by open reduction. After a median interval of 7.3 years, 15 of 18 reviewed patients with fractures healed in excellent position were free of symptoms, but this was so in only six of 13 fractures with residual displacement. The remainder had intermittent slight pain. Radiographic signs of arthritis was found in ten of 24 patients: three of 14 patients with excellent reduction and seven of ten patients with residual displacement.