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Hook of hamate fractures: critical evaluation of different therapeutic procedures.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Scheufler, O; Andresen, R; Radmer, S; Erdmann, D; Exner, K; Germann, G
Published in: Plast Reconstr Surg
February 2005

The treatment of choice in nondisplaced hook of hamate fractures is conservative, with lower arm splinting. Displaced fractures should be treated operatively, whereby excision of the fragment or open reduction and internal fixation are described. A hamulus ossis hamati fracture was verified in 14 patients (mean age, 42 years; range, 21 to 73 years) including 11 men and three women. In six patients (42.9 percent), conservative treatment was initiated immediately after trauma with a lower arm cast for 6 weeks, and eight patients (57.1 percent) were operated on primarily. In five patients (35.7 percent), the fragment was excised, and in three patients (21.4 percent), an open reduction and internal fixation was performed using a screw. In five of six patients treated conservatively, nonunion of the fracture with persisting clinical symptoms developed. All of those patients were treated operatively, whereby three patients underwent excision and two patients underwent screw fixation, which led to elimination of the symptoms. One patient was asymptomatic despite nonunion of the fracture and rejected surgery. All of the eight patients operated on primarily were asymptomatic 3 months after surgery. Therefore, the success rate of primary surgical treatment (eight of eight) was significantly higher compared with conservative treatment(one of six). Finally, all 14 patients were asymptomatic at late postoperative follow-up. The clinical outcome of patients with hook of hamate fractures treated conservatively was disappointing. Therefore, primary surgical treatment is recommended. In our patients, excision and open reduction and internal fixation led to comparable results.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Plast Reconstr Surg

DOI

EISSN

1529-4242

Publication Date

February 2005

Volume

115

Issue

2

Start / End Page

488 / 497

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Surgery
  • Splints
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Radiography
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hand Strength
  • Hand
 

Citation

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Scheufler, O., Andresen, R., Radmer, S., Erdmann, D., Exner, K., & Germann, G. (2005). Hook of hamate fractures: critical evaluation of different therapeutic procedures. Plast Reconstr Surg, 115(2), 488–497. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.prs.0000149480.25248.20
Scheufler, Oliver, Reimer Andresen, Sebastian Radmer, Detlev Erdmann, Klaus Exner, and Günter Germann. “Hook of hamate fractures: critical evaluation of different therapeutic procedures.Plast Reconstr Surg 115, no. 2 (February 2005): 488–97. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.prs.0000149480.25248.20.
Scheufler O, Andresen R, Radmer S, Erdmann D, Exner K, Germann G. Hook of hamate fractures: critical evaluation of different therapeutic procedures. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005 Feb;115(2):488–97.
Scheufler, Oliver, et al. “Hook of hamate fractures: critical evaluation of different therapeutic procedures.Plast Reconstr Surg, vol. 115, no. 2, Feb. 2005, pp. 488–97. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/01.prs.0000149480.25248.20.
Scheufler O, Andresen R, Radmer S, Erdmann D, Exner K, Germann G. Hook of hamate fractures: critical evaluation of different therapeutic procedures. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005 Feb;115(2):488–497.

Published In

Plast Reconstr Surg

DOI

EISSN

1529-4242

Publication Date

February 2005

Volume

115

Issue

2

Start / End Page

488 / 497

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Surgery
  • Splints
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Radiography
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hand Strength
  • Hand