Abstract
Two cases of intraarticular fracture of metacarpals are reported, which were treated by internal fixation with K-wires combined with direct traction, and got good results clinically and radiologically.
The first case was 13 years old boy, whose fracture was in the 3rd MP joint, and the second, 26 years old man, in 5th CM joint. In these cases, satisfactory reduction and rigid fixation were not accomplished by cross wire fixation due to comminuted fractures. So the treatment was completed by direct traction using a special apparatus which I designed. Using this apparatus we can assure that the distraction force acts only on the fractured joint and besides in a continuous way. As a result the alignment of the fragment is kept and the movement of the neighbour joints is made possible. From these view points, it seems that this apparatus is useful for the treatment of unstable intraarticular fracture of the metacarpals.
