Indications for Stable Fixation

Abstract

The vast majority of hand fractures can and should be managed by simple protection, closed reduction and protection, or closed reduction and internal fixation with percutaneous Kirschner wires. Nevertheless, some fractures will require open reduction because of unstable configuration, unsatisfactory reduction, or both. Traditionally, Kirschner wires have been the most common form of internal fixation when open reduction is performed in the hand. Methods using Kirschner wires remain the benchmark by which all other techniques of fracture fixation should be measured.