Bennett Fracture

Excerpt

Bennett fracture is the most common fracture involving the base of the thumb. This fracture refers to an intraarticular fracture that separates the palmar ulnar aspect of the first metacarpal base from the remaining first metacarpal. The injury is typically caused by axial loading on a partially flexed metacarpal and may be associated with other carpal bone fractures or ligament injuries. Radiographs are essential in the evaluation of these injuries and in helping to plan a surgical approach for reduction, as these fractures are considered unstable. The surgical treatment is varied for these fractures. It may consist of closed reduction with percutaneous pinning or open reduction with either pins or inter-fragment pinning. If there is a good alignment of the fracture fragments at postsurgical fixation, clinical outcomes are generally good.