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IM Screw vs. K-wire Fixation of Proximal/Middle Phalanx Fractures
Sponsor: McMaster University
Summary
When people break their fingers, sometimes surgery is needed to align the bones to heal them properly. There are different ways to fix broken bones in hands, such as plates, pins, or screws. Each method has pros and cons; fixing a broken bone with plates is usually a larger surgery with more cutting but holds the bones very securely. Pins require little to no cutting but the patient needs to immobilize their hand for a few weeks afterwards. Screws are a newer method of fixing broken fingers that requires little cutting and also holds the bones securely. The goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of using pins versus screws in surgery for broken fingers. The investigators are studying whether using screws leads to better hand function, patient satisfaction, and quicker return to work.
Official title: Intramedullary Screw Versus Kirschner Wire Fixation of Extraarticular Proximal and Middle Phalanx Fractures: Pilot Study for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
34
Start Date
2025-04-01
Completion Date
2026-03-01
Last Updated
2025-07-22
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Intramedullary screw
Intramedullary (IM) screw fixation is a minimally invasive technique that provides rigid fixation of fractures, acting as an internal splint and load-sharing device. IM screw fixation may allow for early mobilization without the operative site morbidity of open reduction and its associated complications.
Kirschner wire
Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation is a minimally invasive technique that provides non-rigid fixation of fractures. K-wires allow for fracture fixation with minimal soft tissue injury and preserved blood supply. However, patients require prolonged postoperative immobilization and are at risk of malunion and pin tract infection.
Locations (1)
St. Joseph's Healthcare
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada