Fixation for comminuted phalangeal fractures. A biomechanical study of five methods.

The rigidities of five fixation methods have been studied with a comminuted phalangeal fracture model. Mechanical testing of compression, bending and torsion were performed for each fixation. Lateral plating with six screws seems to provide the most rigid fixation. If such lateral plating is not practicable, the four-Kirschner wire method would be a satisfactory alternative.