Transverse Pinning Versus Antegrade Intramedullary Pinning for Neck and Shaft Metatarsal Fractures

Metatarsal fractures account for 35% of fractures of the foot and 5% of all skeletal fractures. They may be single or multiple, and isolated or associated with ligament lesions around the tarsometatarsal joint or with other fractures (1).

Metatarsal fractures result from low-energy trauma in almost 85% of cases. Crush injury accounts for 41% of high-energy foot trauma. Fatigue fracture of metatarsals account for 38% of all fatigue fractures. The second and third metatarsals (M2, M3) are the most affected (2). The fifth metatarsal is involved in up to 70% of metatarsal fractures and approximately 80% of these are proximal (3).

The overall aim of treatment is to restore the alignment of the metatarsals thereby maintaining the longitudinal and transverse arches of the forefoot. This allows normal weight distribution under the metatarsal heads. Nondisplaced fractures and fractures of the second to fourth metatarsals with displacement in the axial plane can be treated conservatively with protected weight bearing in a hard-soled shoe or boot for 4-6 weeks.

Several surgical methods have been introduced to treat displaced fractures when satisfactory reduction and stability cannot be obtained by closed reduction techniques. Among the various surgical techniques available for the fixation of metatarsal fractures, include open reduction internal fixation by screw or mini plate , transverse pinning and antegrade intramedullary pinning Transverse pinning and antegrade intramedullary pinning have gained widespread acceptance due to their minimally invasive stabilization of metatarsal fractures to enable adequate fracture healing in a correct position to restore anatomy and biomechanics of the foot (4).

Antegrade intramedullary pinning technique using Kirschner wire (K-wire) allowed displaced metatarsal fractures to be easily reduced without opening the fracture site, and at the same time secured firm fixation without infringing the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. Furthermore, the described method allowed immediate joint motion and caused no motion or pain limitation, and thus allowed rapid return to daily activities (5).