Midterm (Min. 3yr) Follow-up of Patients With Single Spiral/Oblique Finger Metacarpal Fracture

NCT ID: NCT05869331

Last Updated: 2024-05-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 35 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-05-29
• Study Completion Date: 2024-02-05

Brief Summary

Spiral metacarpal fractures (metacarpal II-V) can be treated conservatively or with operation. With minimal displacement this fracture is usually treated with immobilisation or early mobilisation. With appreciable displacement especially any malrotation the patient usually is treated with an operation. This usually includes an open reduction of the fracture and fixation with plates and screws or just screws.

The hypothesis that nonoperative treatment (using early mobilization without splintage) will result in similar outcomes to operative treatment was previously tested by this research group (Peyronson et al. JBJS American 2023). Over a 1-year follow-up the primary outcome of grip strength was found to be noninferior.

This trial will extend the follow-up period and re-evaluate the patients included in the original cohort to identify any difference over a 3-6 year follow up.

Detailed Description

The original trial was a noninferiority randomized controlled trial evaluating 42 patients. Randomization was performed 1:1 to either nonoperative treatment with mobilization initiated immediately following recruitment or operative treatment using ORIF with cortical screws or locking compression plate (LCP) and screw fixation.

The non-inferiority margin (NIM) was defined as -15% grip strength of the injured hand relative to the contralateral hand. The same NIM will be used for this trial.

Because subtle biomechanical changes (mainly metacarpal bone shortening) could theoretically cause problems not evident at 1-year follow-up (such as joint degeneration from changes in load distribution), the investigators plan to re-evaluate the patients for a longer-term follow-up.

Only patients included in the original trial will be eligible for inclusion in this extended follow-up. Participation will be offered via mail invitation, and participants will be offered financial compensation in the form of a single payment of 500SEK.

Data collection will be performed in a single outpatient hospital visit where patient history, subjective outcome data and bilateral plain radiography of the hands will be obtained.

Conditions

Metacarpal Fracture

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Nonoperative treatment

Patients in this group were treated with early mobilization.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Early mobilization

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Patients randomized to nonoperative treatment have already received treatment using early mobilization in the original trial, and all fractures have been confirmed healed. Mobilization consisted of 5 repetitions of full finger extension followed by maximum finger flexion, and 5 such sets of 5 were required per day for the first 6 weeks. Buddy taping or resting splint was offered if the patient experienced difficulty, and mobilization was performed by all patients in this treatment arm.

Operative treatment

Patients in this group were treated surgically.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Operative treatment

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Patients randomized to operative treatment have already received treatment using open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with cortical screws in the original trial, and all fractures have been confirmed healed. Surgery was performed under general anaesthesia through a dorsal incision centered over the fractured metacarpal. Reduction was performed under visual inspection and fixation performed using 2 or more cortical screws (Synthes Compact Hand 2.0) as first option. At the surgeons preference fixation using plate and screw fixation was also allowed. Postoperatively patients were put in a plaster cast for two weeks and then hand therapy was initiated.

Interventions

Early mobilization

Patients randomized to nonoperative treatment have already received treatment using early mobilization in the original trial, and all fractures have been confirmed healed. Mobilization consisted of 5 repetitions of full finger extension followed by maximum finger flexion, and 5 such sets of 5 were required per day for the first 6 weeks. Buddy taping or resting splint was offered if the patient experienced difficulty, and mobilization was performed by all patients in this treatment arm.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Operative treatment

Patients randomized to operative treatment have already received treatment using open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with cortical screws in the original trial, and all fractures have been confirmed healed. Surgery was performed under general anaesthesia through a dorsal incision centered over the fractured metacarpal. Reduction was performed under visual inspection and fixation performed using 2 or more cortical screws (Synthes Compact Hand 2.0) as first option. At the surgeons preference fixation using plate and screw fixation was also allowed. Postoperatively patients were put in a plaster cast for two weeks and then hand therapy was initiated.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Previous inclusion in the original study population, i.e.:

• Diaphyseal, single spiral, and oblique fractures of the index to little finger metacarpals
• Fracture line length at least twice the diameter of the bone at the level of the fracture
• At least 2-mm displacement and/or shortening of the fracture or malrotation
• Normal hand function before the injury
• Fracture <10 days old

Exclusion Criteria

• Multiple metacarpal fractures
• Open fractures
• Inability to follow instructions
• Fracture line length less than twice the diameter of the bone at the level of the fracture
• Abnormal hand function before the injury
• Previous ipsilateral hand fractures
• Fracture ≥10 days old at possible randomization

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Uppsala University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Björn Äng, Professor

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Region Dalarna

Locations

Falun Regional Hospital

Falun, , Sweden

Uppsala University Hospital

Uppsala, , Sweden

Countries

Sweden

References

Peyronson F, Ostwald CS, Hailer NP, Giddins G, Vedung T, Muder D. Nonoperative Versus Operative Treatment for Displaced Finger Metacarpal Shaft Fractures: A Prospective, Noninferiority, Randomized Controlled Trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2023 Jan 18;105(2):98-106. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.22.00573. Epub 2022 Nov 10.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 36455163 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

276742

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id