Purpose: Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of Bennett fractures is increasingly preferred over closed reduction and percutaneous fixation (CRIF) in an attempt to prevent the development of post-traumatic arthrosis. The aim of this systematic review was to determine whether the preference for ORIF is justified based on the available literature regarding functional outcome and complications after surgery. Methods: A systematic review was performed in Medline, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of science, and Google scholar. Duplicates were removed and title and abstract were screened after which full text articles were analysed. The reference lists of selected articles were screened for additional relevant studies. Study characteristics were recorded and methodological qualities were assessed after which data was extracted from the included articles. The Eaton-Littler score for post-traumatic arthrosis (primary outcome) on follow-up X-rays was used as primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were Grip strength, Pinch strength, persistent pain, fixation failure, functional impairment, infection and surgery time. Results: Ten studies were included; three retrospective comparative studies and seven retrospective case series. Of the 215 patients in these studies, 138 had been treated using an open technique and 77 by a closed percutaneous technique. The pooled rate of post-traumatic arthrosis was 57.5% (26.6–85.5) in the ORIF group versus 26.1% (3.9–59.0) in the CRIF group. Mean surgical operation time was 71.9 min for ORIF and 30.2 min for percutaneous patients. Fixation failure was significantly more often seen in the ORIF patients, 8.2% (0.7–22.8) vs. 2.9% (0.8–9.1), Risk Ratio 1.132 (0.01–176.745); p = 0.048. Infection was only seen in 5 CRIF patients. Persistent pain was seen in 32.9% (0.6–83.1) in ORIF patients versus 22.3% (8.1–41.1) in the CRIF patients. The pooled means Grip strength was 48.3 kg (95% CI; 39.7–56.9) versus 43.4 kg (95% CI; 22.9–63.8) for ORIF and CRPF, respectively. Functional impairment was similar between the two groups, 1.4% (0.1–4.4) vs 1.8% (0.1–5.7) respectively. Conclusion: The analysed data do not confirm ORIF to prevent post-traumatic arthrosis, secondly more fixation failure and pain was seen in the ORIF group. The pooled data show percutaneous fixation to be preferable over ORIF in the surgical treatment of Bennett fractures.

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doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2019.06.027, hdl.handle.net/1765/117920
Injury: International Journal of the Care of the Injured
Department of Surgery

Greeven, A., Van Groningen, J. (J.), Schep, N., van Lieshout, E., & Verhofstad, M. (2019). Open reduction and internal fixation versus closed reduction and percutaneous fixation in the treatment of Bennett fractures: A systematic review. Injury: International Journal of the Care of the Injured. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2019.06.027