Physiological fixation of displaced and unstable fractures of the hand.

The operative stabilization of fractures of the hand should not be considered a "radical" approach to the treatment of these injuries. These methods, when properly applied and well executed, influence wound healing by restoring the original length and alignment of the injured tissues. Skeletal stability allows immediate joint mobility in a protected environment. A rapid return to a state of tissue equilibrium can be predicted in many cases.