[Indications, technique and results of treatment of fractures of the base of the first metacarpal bone with movement stable osteosynthesis].

We report about the indication, technique and results of 27 fractures of the base of the metacarpus I. All those fractures were treated by open reduction and screw-/plate osteosynthesis according to the AOSIF-technique. Using these implants and the technique of open reduction with an additional autologous bone graft it offers the possibility to start active motion therapy immediately after operation. Perioperative complications can be bypassed with the use of external mini-fixateur as well as in those cases of open fractures with various types of damage patterns. Total active mobility (TAM) of the thumb joints showed in our series of 27 treated fractures an active total mobility of 80% or more in 25 patients. There where three patients with wound healing disturbances. No fracture healed delayed or resulted in non union, no patient showed signs of reflex dystrophy, yet in two cases insufficient joint reconstruction had to be noted. Neither our own short followed-up results or those few cases published so far allow us a final critical judgement of the best technique in treating the fractures of the base of metacarpus I.