Yung-Cheng Chiu1,2, Tsung-Yu Ho2, Yen-Nien Ting3, Ming-Tzu Tsai4, Heng-Li Huang5,6, Cheng-En Hsu7,8, Jui-Ting Hsu9,10. 1. School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan. 2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan. 3. 3D Printing Medical Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan. 4. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hungkuang University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China, 433. 5. School of Dentistry, College of Dentistry, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan. 6. Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung, 413, Taiwan. 7. Department of Orthopaedics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 1650, Sec. 4 Taiwan Boulevard, Situng Dist., Taichung City, 407, Taiwan (Republic of China). Jacobhe2001@gmail.com. 8. Sports Recreation and Health Management Continuing Studies-Bachelor's Degree Completion Program, Tunghai University, Taichung, 407, Taiwan. Jacobhe2001@gmail.com. 9. School of Dentistry, College of Dentistry, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan. jthsu@mail.cmu.edu.tw. 10. Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung, 413, Taiwan. jthsu@mail.cmu.edu.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Metacarpal shaft fracture is a common fracture in hand trauma injuries. Surgical intervention is indicated when fractures are unstable or involve considerable displacement. Current fixation options include Kirschner wire, bone plates, and intramedullary headless screws. Common complications include joint stiffness, tendon irritation, implant loosening, and cartilage damage. OBJECTIVE: We propose a modified fixation approach using headless compression screws to treat transverse or short-oblique metacarpal shaft fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used a saw blade to model transverse metacarpal neck fractures in 28 fresh porcine metacarpals, which were then treated with the following four fixation methods: (1) locked plate with five locked bicortical screws (LP group), (2) regular plate with five bicortical screws (RP group), (3) two Kirschner wires (K group), and (4) a headless compression screw (HC group). In the HC group, we proposed a novel fixation model in which the screw trajectory was oblique to the long axis of the metacarpal bone. The entry point of the screw was in the dorsum of the metacarpal neck, and the exit point was in the volar cortex of the supracondylar region; thus, the screw did not damage the articular cartilage. The specimens were tested using a modified three-point bending test on a material testing system. The maximum fracture forces and stiffness values of the four fixation types were determined by observing the force-displacement curves. Finally, the Kruskal-Wallis test was adopted to process the data, and the exact Wilcoxon rank sum test with Bonferroni adjustment was performed to conduct paired comparisons among the groups. RESULTS: The maximum fracture forces (median ± interquartile range [IQR]) of the LP, RP, HC, and K groups were 173.0 ± 81.0, 156.0 ± 117.9, 60.4 ± 21.0, and 51.8 ± 60.7 N, respectively. In addition, the stiffness values (median ± IQR) of the LP, HC, RP, and K groups were 29.6 ± 3.0, 23.1 ± 5.2, 22.6 ± 2.8, and 14.7 ± 5.6 N/mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Headless compression screw fixation provides fixation strength similar to locked and regular plates for the fixation of metacarpal shaft fractures. The headless screw was inserted obliquely to the long axis of the metacarpal bone. The entry point of the screw was in the dorsum of the metacarpal neck, and the exit point was in the volar cortex of the supracondylar region; therefore the articular cartilage iatrogenic injury can be avoidable. This modified fixation method may prevent tendon irritation and joint cartilage violation caused by plating and intramedullary headless screw fixation.
BACKGROUND: Metacarpal shaft fracture is a common fracture in hand trauma injuries. Surgical intervention is indicated when fractures are unstable or involve considerable displacement. Current fixation options include Kirschner wire, bone plates, and intramedullary headless screws. Common complications include joint stiffness, tendon irritation, implant loosening, and cartilage damage. OBJECTIVE: We propose a modified fixation approach using headless compression screws to treat transverse or short-oblique metacarpal shaft fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used a saw blade to model transverse metacarpal neck fractures in 28 fresh porcine metacarpals, which were then treated with the following four fixation methods: (1) locked plate with five locked bicortical screws (LP group), (2) regular plate with five bicortical screws (RP group), (3) two Kirschner wires (K group), and (4) a headless compression screw (HC group). In the HC group, we proposed a novel fixation model in which the screw trajectory was oblique to the long axis of the metacarpal bone. The entry point of the screw was in the dorsum of the metacarpal neck, and the exit point was in the volar cortex of the supracondylar region; thus, the screw did not damage the articular cartilage. The specimens were tested using a modified three-point bending test on a material testing system. The maximum fracture forces and stiffness values of the four fixation types were determined by observing the force-displacement curves. Finally, the Kruskal-Wallis test was adopted to process the data, and the exact Wilcoxon rank sum test with Bonferroni adjustment was performed to conduct paired comparisons among the groups. RESULTS: The maximum fracture forces (median ± interquartile range [IQR]) of the LP, RP, HC, and K groups were 173.0 ± 81.0, 156.0 ± 117.9, 60.4 ± 21.0, and 51.8 ± 60.7 N, respectively. In addition, the stiffness values (median ± IQR) of the LP, HC, RP, and K groups were 29.6 ± 3.0, 23.1 ± 5.2, 22.6 ± 2.8, and 14.7 ± 5.6 N/mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Headless compression screw fixation provides fixation strength similar to locked and regular plates for the fixation of metacarpal shaft fractures. The headless screw was inserted obliquely to the long axis of the metacarpal bone. The entry point of the screw was in the dorsum of the metacarpal neck, and the exit point was in the volar cortex of the supracondylar region; therefore the articular cartilage iatrogenic injury can be avoidable. This modified fixation method may prevent tendon irritation and joint cartilage violation caused by plating and intramedullary headless screw fixation.
Entities:
Keywords:
Bone plate; Compression screw; Metacarpal shaft fracture
Authors: Jana Hurnakova; Emilio Filippucci; Edoardo Cipolletta; Andrea Di Matteo; Fausto Salaffi; Marina Carotti; Antonella Draghessi; Eleonora Di Donato; Marco Di Carlo; Valentina Lato; Rudolf Horvath; Martin Komarc; Karel Pavelka; Walter Grassi Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford) Date: 2019-07-01 Impact factor: 7.580
Authors: Lawrence P Hsu; Edric G Schwartz; David M Kalainov; Franklin Chen; Richard L Makowiec Journal: J Hand Surg Am Date: 2011-04 Impact factor: 2.230