The 'Shish–Kebab technique' in intra-articular fractures of the hamate body and concomitant 4th metacarpal base fracture

Hamate fractures are infrequent and often overlooked wrist injuries. Our objective is to present the Shish-Kebab method, a surgical approach utilized in the treatment of intra-articular Hamate body fractures occurring concurrently with fourth metacarpal base fractures and dislocations.

This study was conducted at a single-center using a prospective design. It included patients aged 16–65 with Kim Type IIB fractures affecting the dominant side. Patients with the same features of fracture and carpometacarpal (CMC) instability findings were divided into two groups according to the success of the closed reduction procedure. In the conservative group (8 patients), all fractures and instability findings were successfully resolved with closed reduction and a short arm plaster cast. The surgical group (8 patients), comprising those requiring open reduction and internal fixation, underwent the application of the 'shish kebab' method.

At the 6th and 12th week follow-ups, no significant differences were observed between the groups concerning pVAS and QuickDash scores. However, upon examining the QuickDash scores, a statistically significant difference emerged between the 6th and 12th weeks within both the conservative (p = 0.017) and surgical (p = 0.012) groups in the intragroup analysis. Grip strength, measured as 83.78% of the contralateral side in the surgical group and 79.51% in the conservative group, did not exhibit a statistically significant difference (p = 0.462).

In the management of Hamate body intra-articular fractures and accompanying fourth metacarpal base fracture dislocations, good clinical results can be achieved with the 'Shish–Kebab' method in cases where closed reduction is unsuccessful.