Diagnosis and treatment of a closed and inverted metacarpal head fracture

Abstract This case report documents a rare inversion of a closed metacarpal head fracture in the setting of polytrauma. Although rare, hemispherical articular bones can fracture and rotate 180°. Because of the symmetry of the bone and the rarity of an inverted, metacarpal head fracture, a delay in d...

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Main Authors: Jinghong Wesley Yuan, Michael R. Boniello, David A. Fuller
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-06-01
Series:Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12428
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author Jinghong Wesley Yuan
Michael R. Boniello
David A. Fuller
author_facet Jinghong Wesley Yuan
Michael R. Boniello
David A. Fuller
author_sort Jinghong Wesley Yuan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This case report documents a rare inversion of a closed metacarpal head fracture in the setting of polytrauma. Although rare, hemispherical articular bones can fracture and rotate 180°. Because of the symmetry of the bone and the rarity of an inverted, metacarpal head fracture, a delay in diagnosis and subsequent treatment can occur, which can lead to a poor outcome. This is particularly true in the setting of polytrauma. A 38‐year‐old male, polytrauma patient presented to the emergency department (ED) after falling off a bridge and being struck by an oncoming vehicle. He presented with multiple surgical fractures of the upper and lower extremities as well as his pelvis. Three days after he was brought to the ED, x‐rays were performed of his painful left hand, which revealed an extra‐articular third metacarpal head fracture, for which he underwent open reduction of the closed fracture. Both collateral ligaments were intact and the head fragment had inverted within the constraints of these ligaments. Some of the ligament and capsular tissue remained attached to the head fragment along the radial and ulnar margins but was otherwise entirely covered with cartilage. The reduction maneuver was difficult but after the reduction was achieved, the fracture appeared stable and no internal fixation was used. Post reduction, the injury was splinted for 2 weeks and then early motion was allowed. The fracture has since healed, and the patient has attained near‐full function of the finger and joint.
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spelling doaj-art-8d367958a5404f018de53f5fcc3be81a2025-08-20T03:37:45ZengElsevierJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open2688-11522021-06-0123n/an/a10.1002/emp2.12428Diagnosis and treatment of a closed and inverted metacarpal head fractureJinghong Wesley Yuan0Michael R. Boniello1David A. Fuller2Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Camden New Jersey USADepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery Cooper University Hospital Camden New Jersey USADepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery Cooper University Hospital Camden New Jersey USAAbstract This case report documents a rare inversion of a closed metacarpal head fracture in the setting of polytrauma. Although rare, hemispherical articular bones can fracture and rotate 180°. Because of the symmetry of the bone and the rarity of an inverted, metacarpal head fracture, a delay in diagnosis and subsequent treatment can occur, which can lead to a poor outcome. This is particularly true in the setting of polytrauma. A 38‐year‐old male, polytrauma patient presented to the emergency department (ED) after falling off a bridge and being struck by an oncoming vehicle. He presented with multiple surgical fractures of the upper and lower extremities as well as his pelvis. Three days after he was brought to the ED, x‐rays were performed of his painful left hand, which revealed an extra‐articular third metacarpal head fracture, for which he underwent open reduction of the closed fracture. Both collateral ligaments were intact and the head fragment had inverted within the constraints of these ligaments. Some of the ligament and capsular tissue remained attached to the head fragment along the radial and ulnar margins but was otherwise entirely covered with cartilage. The reduction maneuver was difficult but after the reduction was achieved, the fracture appeared stable and no internal fixation was used. Post reduction, the injury was splinted for 2 weeks and then early motion was allowed. The fracture has since healed, and the patient has attained near‐full function of the finger and joint.https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12428avascular necrosis of the metacarpal boneflipped metacarpal head fractureinverted, metacarpal head fracturemetacarpal head fractureopen reductionpolytrauma
spellingShingle Jinghong Wesley Yuan
Michael R. Boniello
David A. Fuller
Diagnosis and treatment of a closed and inverted metacarpal head fracture
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
avascular necrosis of the metacarpal bone
flipped metacarpal head fracture
inverted, metacarpal head fracture
metacarpal head fracture
open reduction
polytrauma
title Diagnosis and treatment of a closed and inverted metacarpal head fracture
title_full Diagnosis and treatment of a closed and inverted metacarpal head fracture
title_fullStr Diagnosis and treatment of a closed and inverted metacarpal head fracture
title_full_unstemmed Diagnosis and treatment of a closed and inverted metacarpal head fracture
title_short Diagnosis and treatment of a closed and inverted metacarpal head fracture
title_sort diagnosis and treatment of a closed and inverted metacarpal head fracture
topic avascular necrosis of the metacarpal bone
flipped metacarpal head fracture
inverted, metacarpal head fracture
metacarpal head fracture
open reduction
polytrauma
url https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12428
work_keys_str_mv AT jinghongwesleyyuan diagnosisandtreatmentofaclosedandinvertedmetacarpalheadfracture
AT michaelrboniello diagnosisandtreatmentofaclosedandinvertedmetacarpalheadfracture
AT davidafuller diagnosisandtreatmentofaclosedandinvertedmetacarpalheadfracture