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Implantology of Phalangeal Fractures

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  • First Online:
Handbook of Orthopaedic Trauma Implantology

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Abstract

This chapter describes the role of the implants in operative treatment of phalanx fractures such as the surgical stabilization of the bone in order to secure the fracture reduction and to allow an adequate process of bone healing at the same time. Therefore, patients are able to do passive or better active motion and apply load onto the affected bone.

This type of hand fracture can be managed with non-operative or surgical treatment, favouring early mobilization of the injured finger in both cases, and the choice depends on several factors. On the other hand, implant devices are constantly evolving, and can be divided into three categories: (1) Kirschner wires (as temporary or definitive treatment, bearing a list of both advantages and disadvantages), (2) plates and screws (including lag screws, locking plates, and external fixation), and (3) minimally invasive/fracture-specific plates (including low profile, variable angle locking plates and the use of headless screws), all of which remain valid nowadays.

Moreover, the choice of the implants depends on the type and site of fracture, the comminution, the involvement of surrounding soft tissue, and surgeon skill. Finally, the hand surgeon may use one or a combination of more implants to obtain an adequate stability.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hand and Upper Limb Surgery, Clinica Anglo Americana, Lima, Peru

    Jose Ricardo Castro Obeso

Authors
  1. Jose Ricardo Castro Obeso
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NH Narayana Superspeciality and Multispeciality Hospitals, Howrah, West Bengal, India

    Arindam Banerjee

  2. Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Peter Biberthaler

  3. Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry, India

    Saseendar Shanmugasundaram

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, India

    Ravi Ganesh Bharadwaj

  2. Sri Dhaatri Orthopaedic, Maternity & Gynaecology Center, Vijayawada, India

    Srinivas B. S. Kambhampati

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Castro Obeso, J.R. (2023). Implantology of Phalangeal Fractures. In: Banerjee, A., Biberthaler, P., Shanmugasundaram, S. (eds) Handbook of Orthopaedic Trauma Implantology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7540-0_76

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7540-0_76

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-19-7539-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-19-7540-0

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