Percutaneous Fixation of Metatarsals Fractures with Kirchner’s Wire, Comparison of Antegrade and Retrograde Technique

CATEGORY: Trauma; Midfoot/Forefoot INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: The antegrade intramedullary nailing technique with Kirchner’s wire (K-wire) (EAK) for the management of metatarsal fractures (MTT) is recent and with few reports. Our objective was to evaluate and compare the clinical results among patients operated on in our center for MTT fractures using the EAK technique versus the traditional retrograde technique (ERK). METHODS: Retrospective, analytical study. We reviewed the cases of patients with a diagnosis of MTT fracture and surgical indication operated with EAK or ERK between February 2010 and January 2016. First and fifth metatarsal fractures were excluded from the analysis, as well as patients in which a fixation method other than K-wire was used. Demographic data, clinical and radiological results were recorded. A total of 34 patients (34 feet, 70 metatarsals) were analyzed and were divided into two groups: Group 1, operated with EAK (15 feet, 22 metatarsals), and Group 2, operated with ERK (19 feet, 48 metatarsals). Statistical analysis was carried out with Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test for non-parametric variables, with fixed statistical significance at p <0.05. RESULTS: The median age was 37 years [IQR = 51-25.25], p = 0.128. Both groups presented similar soft tissue involvement (p = 1,000), similar associated injury rate (20.0% vs 42.1%, p = 0.271), and similar proportions of diaphyseal and neck fractures (p = 0.659 and p = 0.733 respectively). The group operated with the EAK technique presented a lower report of metatarsalgia (6.7% (1) vs 47.3% (9), p = 0.020), shorter rest time since injury (94 days [IQR = 129-82] vs 144 days [IQR = 210-122], p = 0.002) and shorter time to full load (7 weeks [IQR = 9-6] vs 10 weeks [IQR 12.5-8.5], p = 0.002). EAK and ERK did not show differences in criteria for poor reduction (p = 1.00), number of re-interventions (p = 0.560), infections (p = 0.492), or metatarsophalangeal stiffness (p = 0.451). CONCLUSION: Metatarsal fracture fixation with EAK presented a lower rate of metatarsalgia and shorter rest time compared to ERK, demonstrating similarity in terms of quality of reduction and complication rate.