Locked intramedullary nail: metacarpal geometry study in adults
Boonyasirikool, C.; Niempoog, S.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 97(Suppl 8): S194-S198
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 25518313 Document Number: 16646
Ideal fixation for metacarpal fracture should provide immediate stability to allow early rehabilitation. Locked intramedullary nail may fulfill the need. Metecarpal geometry has to be studied in order to design the locked intramedullaly nail. To study metacarpal geometry in adult cadaver for locked intramedullary nail design. Radiographs of metacarpals taken from 50 embalmed adult cadavers were measured for essential parameters for locked intramedullary nail design. Total length, proximal metaphyseal width, distal metaphyseal width, isthmus width and medullary canal width were measured. The parameters were analyzed by descriptive statistic. The average total lengths were rangedfrom 44.53 to 65.42 mm. The average metaphyseal widths ofmetacarpal bone were between 11.42 to 16.42 mm. The average medullary canal widths were between 3.05 to 6.74 mm. The extreme small (less than 3 mm) medullary canals were found in index, middle, ring and small metacarpals. The results of our study provide crucial preliminary data for locked metacarpal nail design for adult patient.