Bennett's fracture: a medium to long-term review.

Seventy-six patients who had sustained Bennett's fractures before 1985 comprised the patient base. Of these, 21 could be contacted and were reviewed at an average of 7 years 7 months after fracture to determine the effect of the quality of reduction on clinical and radiological outcome. Those cases that healed with up to 1 mm of fracture displacement were found to have superior results to cases where the reduction was less accurate. However even in those cases where a good reduction was not achieved the results were generally satisfactory with only one of 76 patients being known to have required a subsequent fusion of the first carpo-metacarpal joint. The subjective results in most patients had not deteriorated with time. It is recommended that a reduction with less than 1 mm displacement of the fracture be achieved in cases of Bennett's fracture. The particular technique by which the reduction is achieved and held is immaterial.