ABSTRACT
Fractures of the metacarpals and phalanges are some of the
most common injuries that are presented to the hand surgeon
(1,2). Ten percent of all fractures occur in the metacarpals or
phalanges and 80% of all hand fractures involve these bones
(3,4). Until the early part of the twentieth century, these
fractures were treated nonoperatively. Albin Lambotte in 1928
pioneered the work of operative fixation for metacarpal frac-
tures (5). Even today the majority of metacarpal and phalangeal
fractures are treated conservatively. Those fractures that are
nondisplaced or minimally displaced are inherently stable and
require only nonsurgical management. Other fractures can be
reduced in a closed manner and held in a cast or splint.
