Closed functional bracing of metacarpal fractures

By applying the principles of Sarmiento and Charnley, a functional metacarpal brace has been developed which effectively stabilizes metacarpal fractures during fracture healing. Between October 1981 and December 1982, 24 patients with 27 stable, closed metacarpal fractures presented to the Hand Service at Stony Brook University Hospital. All patients were initially immobilized in plaster ulnar gutter splints or short-arm casts until the acute symptoms of pain and swelling subsided. After this initial period, the patients were treated with the functional metacarpal brace. The results are discussed.