Rw. Duncan et al., OPEN HAND FRACTURES - AN ANALYSIS OF THE RECOVERY OF ACTIVE MOTION AND OF COMPLICATIONS, The Journal of hand surgery, 18A(3), 1993, pp. 387-394
Seventy-five of 104 patients who underwent operative fixation of open
hand fractures were reviewed between 6 months and 7 years after injury
(average, 17 months). There were 140 fractures involving 125 fingers.
Results, evaluated on the basis of total active range of digital moti
on achieved at final follow-up, correlated highly with severity of sof
t tissue injury. When open fractures of comparable severity were contr
asted between groups that did and did not require additional extension
by incision to achieve acceptable reduction and stabilization, there
was some additional loss of active range of motion in the surgically t
reated group. Metacarpal fractures had significantly better outcomes t
han phalangeal fractures. Fractures involving the proximal phalanx or
the proximal interphalangeal joint had the poorest prognosis, especial
ly when they were associated with tendon injury. There were significan
t complications in 13 fingers. Infection and late amputation were rela
ted to wound severity.