Short-term functional outcomes of patients with metatarsal fractures following intramedullary K-wire osteosynthesis at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute

Abstract

Background: Metatarsal fractures are common orthopaedic injuries, constituting up to 35% of all foot fractures. Intramedullary K-wire osteosynthesis is frequently used for their management. Despite its widespread use, functional outcomes following this treatment remain underexplored in our setting.

Objective: To determine the short-term functional outcomes of patients with metatarsal fractures after intramedullary K-wire osteosynthesis at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI).

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted at MOI. Patients aged 18 years and above with AO/ICI Type A metatarsal fractures treated with K-wire osteosynthesis were enrolled. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Maryland Foot Score at 12 weeks postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 17, with a significance level set at p<0.05.

Results: A total of 33 patients were included. The mean age was 30 ± 11.71 years, with 90% being male. Over half (57.58%) achieved good functional outcomes, while 3.03% experienced treatment failure. Pain levels were minimal in 75.75% of participants, and 70% demonstrated good mobility. No statistically significant associations were found between functional outcomes and independent variables.

Conclusion and Recommendations: Intramedullary K-wire osteosynthesis for metatarsal fractures results in favorable short-term functional outcomes. However, further multicenter studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are recommended to assess long-term recovery trends.