We used four Korean adult cadavers with no history of trauma, surgeries, or deformities on their hands. Excluding the first finger, we chose and sorted 30 other metacarpal bones into ten groups, each of which was composed of three metacarpal bones according to similar length and thickness. Three metacarpal bones of each group were induced transverse type shaft fractures with a saw. After reduction, plate fixation, K-wire fixation, and headless cannulated compression screw fixation were performed. We used an I plate (1.0 mm in thickness; Jeil Medical, Seoul, Korea), self-tapping cortical screws (2.0 mm in diameter; Jeil Medical), an Arix headless cannulated compression screw (3.0 mm in diameter, Jeil Medical), and a 1.6-mm K-wire (1.6 mm in thickness; Depuy Synthes, Raynham, MA, USA) (Fig. 1). As the I plate had 16 holes, we cut that into an appropriate length to have 8 to 9 holes. With the prepared plate in place, cortical screws were inserted from the dorsal side to the volar side. Intramedullary K-wire fixation was performed from the metacarpal base side. The intramedullary headless compression screw (3.0 mm in diameter, Jeil medical) was inserted from the metacarpal head to the base, the thread of which crossed the fracture line (Fig. 2). Each fixation method for the metacarpal shaft fracture was assessed using a force test system, Multitest 2.5-i (ILC 1000N [Loadcell]; Mecmesin, Horsham, UK) (Fig. 3). Both ends of the metacarpal bone were firmly fixed to reduce the rotation force when measuring the tensile strength. Stress was applied to fixed sites until displacement was observed, and the amount of applied stress and displacement values were graphed (Figs. 4 and 5).

The average values for the ultimate tensile strength measured from the ten groups were as follows: plate and screw fixation, 246.1 N (range, 175.3 to 452.4 N); K-wire fixation, 134.6 N (range, 62.7 to 175.0 N); and intramedullary headless compression screw fixation, 181.2 N (range, 119.2 to 211.7 N) (Tables 1 and 2). The ultimate tensile strength for three fixation methods were compared: there were significant differences in the median values (p < 0.05) (Table 2). In order to know whether there is significant difference between two fixation methods, we performed post-hoc test: significant differences were found between the plate and screw fixation and K-wire fixation, between the plate and screw fixation and headless compression screw fixation, and between K-wire fixation and headless compression screw fixation (Table 3). Considering the small sample size, instead of finding a normal distribution, the medians and ranges (minimum to maximum) were calculated, and the Kruskal-Wallis test, a nonparametric method, was applied. For the post-hoc test, the Dunn procedure was performed. The level of significance was set at 0.05 and statistical analysis was performed utilizing SAS 9.4 ver. (SAS Inc., Cary, NC, USA).

The treatment goals of metacarpal fractures are the prevention of rotational/angular deformities and shortening and fast and complete recovery of function.13) For these goals to be achieved, precise reduction and internal fixation are important as well as early postoperative joint exercises.

Metacarpal shaft fractures can be treated by closed reduction and casting, but in certain cases incomplete reduction can lead to malunion and failure of synostosis. Also, long-term immobility due to fixation can result in complications such as ankylosis.45) Without accurate surgical measurements, the probability of angular deformity, shortening, and rotational deformity increase; in addition, serious aesthetic and functional problems can arise such as cross-fingering and superimposition associated with rotational deformity.6)

Plate fixation is a commonly used internal fixation technique for a metacarpal shaft fracture. This procedure has the strongest fixation strength14) and allows for early postoperative joint movement. However, it has a high risk for soft tissue damage, fibrosis, and adhesion, which can lead to other complications such as ankylosis, surgery-related infection, and tendon rupture from the plate screws, etc.67101112) If these complications occur, removing the internal fixation plate and treating the injuries incur a high cost, which becomes an additional burden to the patient.

Percutaneous K-wire fixation is a simple surgical technique that does not require an incision. Therefore, this method has advantages of minimal soft tissue damage and a low infection rate. However, because the fixation strength is weak, the patient may require a splint. Furthermore, restraint on the skin and soft tissue may cause inconvenience during early postoperative joint movement. Also, if the percutaneous K-wire is inappropriately inserted into the tendon, it may interfere with the gliding movement of the tendon and cause ankylosis.46) Compared to plate fixation, Steinmann pin fixation has less soft tissue damage and a lower risk of extension disability and tendon rupture. However, the strength of fixation is relatively weak, making it difficult to control rotational deformities.15)

In order to overcome the disadvantages of plate fixation (soft tissue damage, tendon adhesion, and tendon rupture from the screws) and K-wire fixation (weak fixation), another method was designed using closed reduction and percutaneous headless compression screw method. In this cadaveric study, we acquired median values of tensile strength of three operative methods showing significant differences. Also, according to the post-hoc test, we could confirm significant differences in the paired comparisons of the three methods.

The limitations of this study include that although we attempted to use metacarpal bones of similar lengths and widths, there must have been slight differences in length and width, and therefore the same fracture line and angle could not be induced on all bones. In addition, only a total of 30 metacarpal bones were included and divided into ten groups. The small sample size limited statistical analysis. Also, during the measurement of ultimate tensile strength, the bending force was measured, but measurement of rotational movement was not performed.

In this study, we could confirm significant differences between the headless compression screw and K-wire and between the headless compression screw and plate and screws. Even though the fixation strength of headless compression screws was not superior to that of the plate, we think that headless compression screws are sufficiently strong to fix the fracture site according to the results. This study demonstrated that intramedullary headless compression screw fixation can be successfully used in clinical settings with favorable fixation strength in some metacarpal fractures.

From a viewpoint of clinical relevance, we could provide the theoretical grounds for the advantages of headless compression screw fixation in metacarpal shaft fractures including relatively strong fixation, small incision, minimal surgical time, low risk for infection, small soft tissue injuries and early range of motion exercise. Many studies have already attempted to prove clinical usefulness of headless compression screws in metacarpal fractures. Tobert et al.16) suggested that intramedullary headless screw fixation of metacarpal fractures was an efficacious treatment modality for patients with comminution, multiple fractures, malrotation, and those who required rapid mobilization. Ruchelsman et al.17) concluded that limited open retrograde intramedullary headless screw fixation was safe and reliable for metacarpal neck and subcapital and axially stable shaft fractures, allowed for early postoperative motion without affecting union rates, and obviated immobilization. Likewise, several orthopedic clinicians already used headless compression screw fixation for treating metacarpal fractures; however, their methods depended on their experience without any theoretical analysis based a mechanical test.

Despite the advantages, we have to concern about articular cartilage damage of the metacarpal head with use of intramedullary headless compression screw fixation in metacarpal shaft fractures. There may be some problems of this surgical method such as the exposure of the metacarpophalangeal joint, but the 3.0-mm headless compression screws that were used did not protrude out of the articular surface. In addition, minimal articular cartilage damage with use of an appropriate surgical technique could permit early range of motion exercises after surgery. However, small articular cartilage damage could accelerate metacarpophalangeal joint osteoarthritis, and it warrants further research.

In this cadaveric study, we assessed the tensile strength of three fixation techniques in the simulated metacarpal fractures and observed that the median values decreased significantly in the following order: the plate and screw fixation, headless compression screw fixation, and K-wire fixation. Furthermore, significant differences were noted between the headless compression screw fixation and K-wire fixation and between the headless compression screw fixation and plate and screw fixation. Based on such results, we came to the conclusion that the fixation strength of the headless compression screw was stronger than that of the K-wire and weaker than that of the plate and screws. Therefore, we assume that the headless compression screw might be strong enough to fix metacarpal shaft fractures and could be one of the effective surgical treatment methods for metacarpal shaft fractures. To confirm our observation, a clinical study should be conducted.