Seventy-six patients who had sustained Bennett's fractures before 1985
comprised the patient base. Of these, 21 could be contacted and were
reviewed at an average of 7 years 7 months after fracture to determine
the effect of the quality of reduction on clinical and radiological o
utcome. Those cases that healed with up to 1 mm of fracture displaceme
nt were found to have superior results to cases where the reduction wa
s less accurate. However even in those cases where a good reduction wa
s not achieved the results were generally satisfactory with only one o
f 76 patients being known to have required a subsequent fusion of the
first carpo-metacarpal joint. The subjective results in most patients
had not deteriorated with time. It is recommended that a reduction wit
h less than 1 mm displacement of the fracture be achieved in cases of
Bennett's fracture. The particular technique by which the reduction is
achieved and held is immaterial.