METACARPAL FIXATION

This article discusses and categorizes common metacarpal fractures and their treatments, including various techniques of obtaining skeletal fixation. It reviews metacarpal shaft fracture; intra-articular metaca rpal head fractures; and metacarpal neck and base fractures including carpal-metacarpal dislocations, and Rolando's and Bennett's fractures of the base of thumb metacarpal. Also discussed are the effects of sho rtening or lengthening the digital skeleton and bioabsorbable implants , a potential treatment modality currently under development.