AN UNSTABLE MIDDLE PHALANX NECK FRACTURE TREATED WITH A SINGLE KIRSCHNER WIRE

Hand fractures are extremely common and many of these fractures may be treated effectively by non-surgical methods. Surgical fixation is the choice of management for unstable, displaced fractures and it requires a good understanding of the fracture morphology, surgical skill and implant preference of the surgeon. K-wires as an implant can provide a minimally invasive, cost-effective, stable fixation of the fracture and combined with early mobilization, enables the patient to get favorable functional outcomes. A common method of fixation is using 2 crossed K wires which although can provide a more rigid fixation, is not without challenges. We describe with a case of a middle phalanx fracture of the nondominant hand in a manual labourer, who underwent fracture fixation with a single Kirschner wire and was instituted early active mobilization. By the post-operative 6th week, he achieved an excellent functional outcome.