{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T09:12:27Z","timestamp":1788772347575,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":18,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788739200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Medicina"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background and Objectives: Fifth metacarpal neck fractures are commonly encountered in hand surgery, yet optimal surgical fixation remains debated. This study compares Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation and locking plate osteosynthesis in terms of radiological and functional outcomes. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort of 30 patients (mean age 45) from 2003\u20132022 was reviewed. Patients underwent either antegrade K-wire fixation or dorsal\/volar locking plate fixation. Outcomes assessed included union time, angular and length deformity correction, return to work, and complication rates. Results: Both groups achieved similar final angulation correction (85%, p = 0.72). K-wire fixation achieved significantly faster radiographic union (K-wire: 3.5 months; plate: 4.5 months, p = 0. 019). K-wires allowed earlier intervention (6.0 (3.0\u20139.0) vs. 14.0 (9.0\u201322.0) days to surgery, p &lt; 0.05) but had a 6.7% malunion rate. Plating allowed earlier return to work and avoided pin-tract issues. Functional scores (QuickDASH) and grip strength restoration (&gt;90%) were statistically similar. Conclusions: Both K-wire fixation and locking plate osteosynthesis achieved bone union and satisfactory functional recovery in this retrospective cohort. However, given the small sample size and observational nature of the study, surgical selection should be tailored to individual patient presentation and surgeon preference until larger prospective trials are available.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina62091715","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T08:07:06Z","timestamp":1788768426000},"page":"1715","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Comparative Outcomes of Kirschner Wire Fixation Versus Locking Plate Osteosynthesis in Fifth Metacarpal Neck Fractures: A 20-Year Retrospective Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"62","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6993-5416","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sung Huang Laurent","family":"Tsai","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan"},{"name":"Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan"},{"name":"Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan"},{"name":"Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"writing-original-draft","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"data-curation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-3476-0941","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shiny Chih-Hsuan","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics, Sports Section, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"visualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"resources","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"data-curation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Yung-Chuan","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Jen-Ai Hospital, Taichung 412, Taiwan"},{"name":"Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Hungkuang University, Taichung 433, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"project-administration","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"supervision","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Po-Ju","family":"Lai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Orthopedic Traumatology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"resources","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Chun-Ying","family":"Cheng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics, Sports Section, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan"},{"name":"Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Jen-Ai Hospital, Taichung 412, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"resources","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"project-administration","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"212","DOI":"10.1136\/emj.5.4.212","article-title":"The boxers\u2019 fracture: A prospective study of functional recovery","volume":"5","author":"Porter","year":"1988","journal-title":"Arch. 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