Intramedullary Screw Fixation Versus Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning With Cast Immobilization

Plain-language summary

Broken bones in the hand are common injuries that can make it hard to move fingers, grip objects, and return to work. When these breaks happen in the long bones of the hand (called metacarpals and phalanges), surgery is often needed to hold the bones in the right place while they heal. There are a few different ways surgeons can fix these broken bones. Two common methods are: CRPP (Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning): The bones are moved back into place without opening the skin, and thin metal pins are used to hold them. IMSF (Intramedullary Screw Fixation): A small screw is placed inside the bone to hold it in position. Another approach sometimes used for larger bones in the hand is ORIF (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation), where the bone is exposed through a small incision and held with plates or screws. This study will compare how well these methods work. Investigators want to find out if using an intramedullary screw (IMSF) helps patients heal faster and move their hands more easily compared to the other common methods (CRPP and ORIF). Investigators will look at how quickly patients regain movement, how soon they can return to work, how satisfied they are with their recovery, and whether there are any problems or complications from surgery. To do this, investigators will run a randomized controlled trial-this means patients will be stratified based on fracture location (metacarpals or phalanges) and randomly assigned to a treatment arm. For patients with metacarpal fractures, investigators will compare IMSF vs CRPP vs ORIF using a dorsal plate. For patients with proximal or middle phalangeal fractures investigators will compare IMSF to CRPP. Investigators will measure their recovery using both clinical tests and patient surveys over time. The results of this research will help surgeons choose the best and safest way to treat hand fractures so patients can heal faster and get back to their daily lives sooner

Who can participate

What they're measuring

Trial details