A method of treatment of Bennett's fracture is described. A Kirschner wire is drilled obliquely through the base of the first metacarpal bone and traction is applied in a distal, ulnar and palmar direction in order to counteract the dislocating action of abductor pollicis longus and the flexor muscles. The advantages of the method are: 1) It is technically easy and practically without complications. No important structures are liable to be damaged. 2) It can be used in those cases where the palmar fragment is very small. 3) It can be used for comminuted fractures. 4) It can be used in neglected cases where malunion has occurred. 5) It can be used when there are other fractures of the first metacarpal or adjacent bones. 6) It allows exercises of all the finger joints during the whole period of treatment

1. The treatment of Bennett's fracture is reviewed and the relative merits of conservative and operative treatment is considered. 2. A closed method of treatment is described and a series of thirty-one patients so treated is analysed. There were twenty-nine successful results. 3. It is urged that conservative treatment is the method of choice, and that operative measures should be reserved for the occasion when closed methods have failed

We define the long-term outcomes and rates of further operative intervention following displaced Bennett’s fractures treated with Kirschner (K-) wire fixation between 1996 and 2009. We retrospectively identified 143 patients (127 men and 16 women) with a mean age at the time of injury of 33.2 years (18 to 75). Electronic records were examined and patients were invited to complete the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire in addition to a satisfaction questionnaire. The time since injury was a mean of 11.5 years (3.4 to 18.5). In total 11 patients had died, one had developed dementia and 12 patients were lost to follow-up. This left 119 patients available for recruitment. Of these, 57 did not respond, leaving a study group of 62 patients. Patients reported excellent functional outcomes and high levels of satisfaction at follow-up. Median satisfaction was 94% (interquartile range 91.5 to 97.5) and the mean DASH score was 3.0 (0 to 38). None of the patients had undergone salvage procedures and none of the responders had changed occupation or sporting activities. Long-term patient reported outcomes following displaced Bennett’s fractures treated by closed reduction and K-wire fixation show excellent functional results and a high level of patient satisfaction. The rate of infection is low and similar to other surgical procedures with percutaneous K-wires. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:1004–6