[Treatment of carpal fractures].

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to elucidate the incidence and treatment of patients with carpal bone fractures at a county hospital in Norway.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

320 patients with 331 carpal bone fractures treated at the The Hospital of Haugesund, Norway are included in this study. Information was gathered from patient records.

RESULTS

277 patients had scafoid fractures and ultimately 95.8 % healed. 243 patients with a scafoid fracture were immediately treated with plaster-immobilization or operatively because of major dislocation and 89 % healed. The patients with a non-union underwent surgery and ultimately 98.7 % healed in this group. 34 patients suffered delayed treatment and following immobilization and operative treatment healing ensued in only 75 % of these fractures. Inadequate or delayed treatment resulted in a significantly higher rate of non-union and surgery. All 54 non-scafoid fractures healed satisfactory and only one was operated. 27 patients had fractures of the triquetrum; fractures of the six remaining carpal bones were rare.

INTERPRETATION: The results of primary plaster immobilisation and primary operative treatment were considered satisfactory. Our results compare well with other reports.