Value of Ultrasound-Guided Closed Reduction and Minimally Invasive Fixation in the Treatment of Metacarpal Fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the value of ultrasound-guided closed reduction and minimally invasive fixation in the treatment of metacarpal fractures.

METHODS: Twenty-four patients with acute metacarpal fractures were randomly divided into experimental and control groups, with 12 patients in each group. Ultrasound-guided closed reduction and fixation were performed in the experimental group, whereas C-arm fluoroscopy-assisted fixation was performed in the control group. Patients in both groups were followed to compare the treatment efficacy.

RESULTS: The success rates of ultrasound-guided closed reduction of fractures were 75.00% (9 of 12) in the experimental group and 83.33% (10 of 12) in the control group, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ2  = 0.253; P = .615) between the groups. The mean numbers of C-arm fluoroscopy-assisted procedures ± SD were 1.50 ± 0.67 times in the experimental group and 2.50 ± 0.80 in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t = -3.317; P = .003). The mean healing times of fractures were 5.47 ± 0.67 weeks in the experimental group and 5.73 ± 0.81 weeks in the control group; the excellence rates of total active motion were 83.33% (10 of 12) in the experimental group and 91.67% (11 of 12) in the control group; the mean grip strength values were 31.78 ± 3.13 kg in the experimental group and 33.43 ± 3.30 kg in the control group. There were no significant differences in those 3 parameters between the groups (P > .05 in each comparison).

CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided closed reduction and minimally invasive fixation is an effective treatment of metacarpal fractures and can reduce exposure to x-ray radiation.