Fracture of the base of first metacarpal (Bennett fractures) treated with close reduction and Kirschner wire fixation: 16-25 years outcomes

Bennett's injury is a fracture dislocation of the first carpo-metacarpal joint. The causative mechanism is axial overloading along the first metacarpal with simultaneous flexion. The palmar oblique ligament holds the palmar marginal fragment in its anatomical position. The different treatment options are the following: a) using local anesthetics in Emergency Room (ER) or typical surgical treatment in operative room with close reduction followed by percutaneous Kirschner wire, b) open reduction and internal fixation with screws or tension band wiring, c) external fixation. The aim of this study is to report a series of patients with Bennett's fractures who were treated under local anesthesia with closed reduction and percutaneous K-wire fixation, and the presentation of the long term, (16-25 years), follow-up outcomes, which were very good in all the reported patients without development of posttraumatic arthritis

The rib index is not practically affected by the distance between the radiation source and the examined child

Background: All lateral spinal radiographs in idiopathic scoliosis (IS) show a Double Rib Contour Sign (DRCS) of the thoracic cage, a radiographic expression of the rib hump. The outline of the convex overlies the contour of the concave ribs. The rib index (RI) method was extracted from the DRCS to evaluate rib hump deformity in IS patients. The RI was calculated by the ratio of spine distances d1/d2 where d1 is the distance between the most extended point of the most extending rib contour and the posterior margin of the corresponding vertebra on the lateral scoliosis films, while d2 is the distance from the least projection rib contour and the posterior margin of the same vertebra, (Grivas et al 2002). In a symmetric thorax the "rib index" is 1. This report is the validity study of DRCS, ie how the rib index is affected by the distance between the radiation source and the irradiated child. Methods: The American College of Radiology's (2009) guidelines for obtaining radiographs for scoliosis in children recommends for the scoliotic - films distance to be 1,80 meters. Normal values used for the transverse diameter of the ribcage in children aged 6-12 years were those reported by Grivas in 1988. Results: Using the Euclidean geometry, it is shown that in a normal 12-year old child d1/d2 = 1.073 provided that the distance Z ≈ 12cm (11,84) and EA = 180cm, with transverse ribcage diameter of the child 22 cm. Conclusions: This validity study demonstrates that the DRCS is substantially true and the RI is not practically affected by the distance between the radiation source and the irradiated child. The RI is valid and may be used to evaluate the effect of surgical or conservative treatment on the rib cage deformity (hump) in children with IS. It is noted that RI is a simple method and a safe reproducible way to assess the rib hump deformity based on lateral radiographs, without the need for any other special radiographs and exposure to additional radiation. © 2015 Grivas et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd