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Arthroscopy for Adult Hand Fractures

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Pediatric and Adult Hand Fractures

Abstract

Small joint arthroscopy of the hand was first described over 40 years ago. In the subsequent decades, this minimally invasive technology has proven to be an invaluable addition to the hand surgeon’s armamentarium. Arthroscopy of the carpometacarpal, metacarpophalangeal joints, and interphalangeal joints allows for detailed evaluation while minimizing damage to the local soft tissues when compared to traditional open techniques. Arthroscopy has become commonplace in the staging and treatment of various degenerative joint diseases afflicting the small joints of the hand. However, far less literature is available regarding the arthroscopically aided reduction and fixation of common intra-articular hand fractures. Direct arthroscopic visualization of these fractures represents a distinct advantage to purely open or percutaneous techniques, as anatomic reduction can not only be achieved and maintained throughout the case, but also confirmed after fixation. In this chapter, we sought to summarize the role of arthroscopy in the management of intra-articular hand fractures and detail our own surgical techniques.

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Graham, J.G., Osterman, A.L. (2023). Arthroscopy for Adult Hand Fractures. In: Abzug, J.M., Gaston, R.G., Osterman, A.L., Tosti, R.J. (eds) Pediatric and Adult Hand Fractures. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32072-9_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32072-9_20

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