Autogenous bone grafting for fractures of the hand.

ABSTRACT Autogenous bone grafting of hand fractures often occurs within the milieu of a complex wound. Risks of infection and/or stiffness increase with injury severity, contamination, and the time interval between injury and successful wound closure or coverage. A clean wound is paramount for successful tissue repair, reconstruction, and closure. Skeletal restoration is an integral component of composite wound management. Fracture stabilization enhances pain control, protects soft tissue repairs and reconstruction, inhibits infection, and facilitates bone graft consolidation and functional recovery. Mini plate fixation provides the sustained stability necessary for hand fractures with bone loss to heal. Bone grafting is an essential element of skeletal restitution for defects due to comminution or actual loss. Cancellous bone grafts heal more rapidly and are more resistant to infection than cortical bone grafts and may be preferable for partial or smaller intercalary defects. Cortical or corticocancellous grafts augment stability and may be especially useful for larger segmental diaphyseal defects and articular bone loss requiring arthrodesis.