Bennett's Fracture Rehabilitation: A Case Report

Fractures and dislocations of the hand are commonest orthopaedic injuries and constitute about 10 % of skeletal fractures. Bennetts fracture dislocation is an intra-articular basal fracture of the first metacarpal accounting for one-third of first metacarpal injuries. It predominantly occurs in males commonly affecting the dominant hand. The mechanism involves impact against partially flexed thumb or by fall onto a thumb. Management includes closed reduction and stabilization, open reduction with internal fixation or osteosynthesis. Bennetts fracture is associated with complications such as malunion, weak grip and osteoarthritis of first carpometacarpal joint. Following initial management, physical therapy is required to achieve a successful functional outcome. In our case a 24 year old male suffered a Bennetts fracture in right dominant hand and was managed with closed reduction and K-wire fixation. Initial rehabilitation after K-wire removal included passive mobilisation, tendon gliding exercises and grip strengthening.