Value of Ultrasound‐Guided Closed Reduction and Minimally Invasive Fixation in the Treatment of Metacarpal Fractures

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the value of ultrasound‐guided closed reduction and minimally invasive fixation in the treatment of metacarpal fractures. METHODS: Twenty‐four patients with acute metacarpal fractures were randomly divided into experimental and control groups, with 12 patients in each group. Ultrasound‐guided closed reduction and fixation were performed in the experimental group, whereas C‐arm fluoroscopy‐assisted fixation was performed in the control group. Patients in both groups were followed to compare the treatment efficacy. RESULTS: The success rates of ultrasound‐guided closed reduction of fractures were 75.00% (9 of 12) in the experimental group and 83.33% (10 of 12) in the control group, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ(2) = 0.253; P = .615) between the groups. The mean numbers of C‐arm fluoroscopy‐assisted procedures ± SD were 1.50 ± 0.67 times in the experimental group and 2.50 ± 0.80 in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t = –3.317; P = .003). The mean healing times of fractures were 5.47 ± 0.67 weeks in the experimental group and 5.73 ± 0.81 weeks in the control group; the excellence rates of total active motion were 83.33% (10 of 12) in the experimental group and 91.67% (11 of 12) in the control group; the mean grip strength values were 31.78 ± 3.13 kg in the experimental group and 33.43 ± 3.30 kg in the control group. There were no significant differences in those 3 parameters between the groups (P > .05 in each comparison). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound‐guided closed reduction and minimally invasive fixation is an effective treatment of metacarpal fractures and can reduce exposure to x‐ray radiation.