A Bennet fracture is a fracture at the base of which bone?

Study for the NBCOT Hand Injuries and Intervention Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations. Get ready for success!

Multiple Choice

A Bennet fracture is a fracture at the base of which bone?

A Bennet fracture occurs at the base of the thumb’s first metacarpal bone, at the carpometacarpal joint. It’s an intra-articular fracture where a small fragment at the base is displaced by the pull of the thumb muscles while the rest of the metacarpal tends to shift, creating a characteristic fracture-dislocation pattern at the CMC joint. This location and pattern explain the need for careful reduction and fixation to maintain joint congruity and thumb function, since instability at the base of the first metacarpal can lead to arthritis and stiffness if not properly treated. This specific location distinguishes it from injuries like a distal radius fracture (in the wrist), a fracture of the proximal phalanx of the thumb (up a finger), or a trapezium fracture (a carpal bone).

A Bennet fracture occurs at the base of the thumb’s first metacarpal bone, at the carpometacarpal joint. It’s an intra-articular fracture where a small fragment at the base is displaced by the pull of the thumb muscles while the rest of the metacarpal tends to shift, creating a characteristic fracture-dislocation pattern at the CMC joint. This location and pattern explain the need for careful reduction and fixation to maintain joint congruity and thumb function, since instability at the base of the first metacarpal can lead to arthritis and stiffness if not properly treated. This specific location distinguishes it from injuries like a distal radius fracture (in the wrist), a fracture of the proximal phalanx of the thumb (up a finger), or a trapezium fracture (a carpal bone).

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