View clinical trials related to Boxer's Fracture.
Filter by:The purpose of this prospective randomized controlled clinical trial is to evaluate if functional treatment leads to a better functional outcome than a forearm cast and a finger splint in patients with fifth metacarpal neck fracture.
Despite the high prevalence (20% of the hand fractures) of unstable neck metacarpals fractures (boxer's fractures) there is still no consensus concerning the preferred method and ideal moment of treatment, especially in active patients where the time or type of management can have a strong psychological impact on the outcomes. The use of intramedullar technique (headless intramedular screws or bouquet technique fixation) as definitive treatment of unstable boxer's fractures in active patients at the first week, may be a good choice of treatment. This technique is fast, safe, minimally invasive and easily performed reproducible method, without address the extensor tendon to prevent tendon adhesion and joint stiffness, unable earlier functional recovery and shorten the working return time of these patients. Choose a reproducible and effective method, which presents a cost / benefit compatible with our reality. The goal of the present study is to compare working return time, VAS (visual analogue score), quick DASH (disability arm, shoulder and hand) and radiographic outcomes of two methods of definitive internal fixation in active patients in boxer's fractures, operated in the first week.
The investigators are conducting a randomized clinical trial comparing two types of splints for treatment of Boxer's fractures in children up to age 17 inclusive. Patients who meet inclusion criteria will be randomized to either Group A or B. Group A will be treated with the conventional plaster ulnar gutter splint. Group B will be treated with a custom molded thermoplastic hand-based splint. The thermoplastic splint will provide support of the metacarpal but does not immobilize the patient's wrist or interphalangeal joints. Hypothesis: Is plaster splint immobilization an equivalent treatment method to a custom made thermoplastic splint for a fifth metacarpal neck fracture? Will one splint be tolerated better than the other and will the compliance be different between the two groups?