Early return to play after minimally invasive treatment of metacarpal fractures in elite football players.

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of closed reduction and crossed retrograde intramedullary Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation in professional football players with metacarpal fractures, specifically focusing on return to play and complication rates.

METHODS

A total of 27 elite professional football athletes with metacarpal fractures were treated using closed reduction and crossed retrograde K-wire fixation. All surgeries were performed by the same orthopedic surgeon. Postoperative rehabilitation included a standardized protocol and individualized braces designed by a single hand therapist. Clinical and functional outcomes were assessed using range of motion (ROM), grip strength, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores, time to return to training and competition, and radiographic healing.

RESULTS

The mean age of the cohort was 24 years. The fifth metacarpal was the most commonly affected site, and falling onto the pitch was the predominant injury mechanism. Mean return to training was 3.16 weeks, to competition 4.12 weeks, and to radiographic union 4.88 weeks. Mean DASH scores improved from 67.5 to 12.8, VAS from 5.78 to 0.75, MCP joint ROM from 66.75° to 89.25°, and grip strength from 44.87% to 95.55%.

CONCLUSION

Closed reduction and crossed retrograde K-wire fixation, with personalized postoperative care, appears to be a safe, reliable, and minimally invasive method in elite football athletes, enabling early return to play with excellent functional outcomes.