The use of a combination of cerclage and unicortical interosseous loop dental wires For long oblique/spiral metacarpal shaft fractures

Abstract

A literature review of metacarpal fracture fixation techniques revealed that the use of a combination of interosseous and cerclage dental loop wires has not been previously described. In this report, we review the results of 24 patients with long oblique/spiral metacarpal shaft fractures of the fingers treated by this combined technique of internal fixation, followed by immediate postoperative finger mobilisation in a wrist splint. The study included 20 men and four women with a mean age of 32 (range 20-48) years. After a mean follow-up of 10 weeks, 23 patients had regained full range of motion of the fingers. Complications included one case of CRPS Type 1 resulting in mild stiffness and all four women complained of the hyperpigmentation of the dorsal hand scars. The advantages of dental wire fixation were discussed and compared to those of lag screws. © 2008 Sage Publications.