ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2024
Biomechanical analysis of plate versus K-wire fixation for metacarpal shaft fractures with wedge-shaped bone defects.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Intramedullary Headless Screw Feasibility for Anatomical Reduction in II-V Metacarpal Fractures: A CT-Based Morphometric Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Intramedullary Threaded Nail Versus Dorsal Plate and Screw Fixation of Comminuted Metacarpal Shaft Fractures: A Cadaveric Biomechanical Study.Journal of hand surgery global online · 2026Article
- 3D Bioprinting in Limb Salvage Surgery.Journal of functional biomaterials · 2024Review
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7 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundMetacarpal shaft fracture is a common type of hand fracture. Numerous studies have explored fixing transverse fractures in the midshaft of the metacarpal bone. However, this section of the metacarpal bone is often susceptible to high-energy injury, resulting in comminuted fracture or bone loss. In such cases, wedge-shaped bone defects can develop in the metacarpal shaft, increasing the difficulty of performing fracture fixation. Notably, the research on this type of fracture fixation is limited. This study compared the abilities of four fixation methods to fix metacarpal shaft fractures with wedge-shaped bone defects.
methodsIn total, 28 artificial metacarpal bones were used. To create wedge-shaped bone defects, an electric saw was used to create metacarpal shaft fractures at the midshaft of each bone. The artificial metacarpal bones were then divided into four groups for fixation. The bones in the first group were fixed with a dorsal locked plate (DP group), those in the second group were fixed with a volar locked plate (VP group), and those in the third group were fixed by combining dorsal and volar locked plates (DP + VP group), and those in the fourth group were fixed with two K-wires (2 K group). Cantilever bending tests were conducted using a material testing machine to measure yielding force and stiffness. The four groups' fixation capabilities were then assessed through analysis of variance and Tukey's test.
resultsThe DP + VP group (164.1±44.0 N) achieved a significantly higher yielding force relative to the 2 K group (50.7 ± 8.9 N); the DP group (13.6 ± 3.0 N) and VP group (12.3 ± 1.0 N) did not differ significantly in terms of yielding force, with both achieving lower yielding forces relative to the DP + VP group and 2 K group. The DP + VP group (19.8±6.3 N/mm) achieved the highest level of stiffness, and the other three groups did not differ significantly in terms of stiffness (2 K group, 5.4 ± 1.1 N/mm; DP group, 4.0 ± 0.9 N/mm; VP group, 3.9 ± 1.9 N/mm).
conclusionsThe fixation method involving the combined use of dorsal and volar locked plates (DP + VP group) resulted in optimal outcomes with respect to fixing metacarpal shaft fractures with volar wedge bone defects.
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