PRIMARY FUSION OF FRACTURE-DISLOCATIONS OF CENTRAL CARPOMETACARPAL JOINTS

Six patients with dislocations or fracture dislocations of at least th e second and third carpometacarpal joints are presented. Closed reduct ion was attempted in all cases. Two dislocations with minimal periarti cular fractures were stable and were treated with cast immobilization, Four fracture dislocations were unstable and were treated with primar y arthrodesis of the injured joints. One patient was lost to followup and the other 5 were observed for an average of 24 months, Establishme nt of a stable or rigid central carpometacarpal joint produced an exce llent result in 4 patients and a satisfactory result in 1 patient.