Bennett fracture
Last revised by Tariq Walizai on 15 Jul 2024
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Mous A, Walizai T, Machang'a K, et al. Bennett fracture. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 14 Oct 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-984
Permalink:
rID:
984
Article created:
2 May 2008,
Anon Ny Mous
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Anon Ny Mous had no recorded disclosures.
View Anon Ny Mous's current disclosures
Last revised:
15 Jul 2024,
Tariq Walizai
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Tariq Walizai had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Tariq Walizai's current disclosures
Revisions:
41 times, by
27 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Synonyms:
- Bennett's fracture dislocation
- Bennett fracture dislocation
A Bennett fracture is a fracture of the base of the thumb resulting from forced abduction of the first metacarpal. It is defined as an intra-articular two-part fracture of the base of the first metacarpal bone.
On this page:
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
two piece fracture of the base of the thumb metacarpal
intra-articular extension
dorsolateral displacement
small fragment of 1st metacarpal, attached to anterior oblique ligament, continues to articulate with trapezium,
lateral retraction of the first metacarpal shaft by abductor pollicis longus
When an intra-articular fracture of the 1st metacarpal is comminuted, producing at least three parts, it is referred to as a Rolando fracture which has a worse prognosis.
Treatment and prognosis
Non-operative treatment in a thumb spica cast for 3-4 weeks can be considered in stable, non-displaced fractures.
Operative treatment is recommended for unstable fracture patterns and intra-articular displacement of >1 mm. While open reduction and internal fixation with a screw or K-wire are both common practice, screws are often preferred as K-wires must be removed after union.
The treatment algorithm is also influenced by the age and profession/hobbies of the patient.
Complications
Untreated or malreduced fractures can lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis, which can cause significant pain and functional decline.
History and etymology
It is named after Edward Hallaran Bennett (1837-1907), a surgeon from Dublin, Ireland.
Differential diagnosis
epibasal (pseudo-Bennett) fracture: extra-articular fractures through the first metacarpal base
Rolando fracture: comminuted intra-articular fracture through the first metacarpal base
Quiz questions
{"containerId":"expandableQuestionsContainer","displayRelatedArticles":true,"displayNextQuestion":true,"displaySkipQuestion":true,"articleId":984,"questionManager":null,"mcqUrl":"https://radiopaedia.org/articles/bennett-fracture/questions/1704?lang=us"}
References
- 1. Brüser P, Gilbert A, Hand FO. Finger bone and joint injuries. Informa HealthCare. (1999) ISBN:1853176907. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Manaster BJ, Disler DG, May DA et-al. Musculoskeletal imaging, the requisites. Mosby Inc. (2002) ISBN:0323011896. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Wieschhoff GG, Sheehan SE, Wortman JR, Dyer GS, Sodickson AD, Patel KI, Khurana B. Traumatic Finger Injuries: What the Orthopedic Surgeon Wants to Know. (2016) Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. 36 (4): 1106-28. doi:10.1148/rg.2016150216 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Reverse Bennett fracture-dislocation
- Rolando fracture
- Wrist radiograph (checklist)
- Fractures of the thumb
- Green and O'Brien classification of thumb metacarpal fractures
- Eponymous fractures
- Thumb pathology
- Epibasal fracture of the thumb
- Anterior oblique ligament of the thumb
- Gamekeeper's thumb
- Metacarpal fracture
- Os paratrapezium
- Hand radiograph (checklist)
- Dorsal deltoid ligament complex of the thumb
- Hand radiograph (an approach)
- Upper extremity fractures
Cases:
- Rolando fracture
- Unstable Bennett fracture
- Bennet fracture
- Proximal carpal row fracture-dislocation
- Radial collateral ligament avulsion injury- thumb
- Bennett fracture
- Green and O'Brien classification of thumb metacarpal fractures
- Thumb metacarpal fractures (illustration)
- Epibasal thumb fracture
- Bennet fracture
- Bennet fracture
- Bennett fracture
- Epibasal thumb fracture
- Bennett fracture
- Bennett fracture
- Bennett fracture dislocation
- Bennett fracture
- Rolando fracture
- Reverse Bennett fracture dislocation
- Bennett fracture: with subsequent complication
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Fractures
-
fracture
- terminology
- fracture location
- diaphyseal fracture
- metaphyseal fracture
- physeal fracture
- epiphyseal fracture
- fracture types
- avulsion fracture
- articular surface injuries
- complete fracture
- incomplete fracture
- infraction
- compound fracture
- pathological fracture
- stress fracture
- fracture displacement
- fracture location
- fracture healing
- skull fractures
-
facial fractures
- fractures involving a single facial buttress
- alveolar process fractures
- frontal sinus fracture
- isolated zygomatic arch fractures
- mandibular fracture
- nasal bone fracture
- orbital blow-out fracture
- paranasal sinus fractures
- complex fractures
- dental fractures
- fractures involving a single facial buttress
-
spinal fractures
- classification (AO Spine classification systems)
-
cervical spine fracture classification systems
- AO classification of upper cervical injuries
- AO classification of subaxial injuries
- Anderson and D'Alonzo classification (odontoid fracture)
- Roy-Camille classification (odontoid process fracture)
- Gehweiler classifcation (atlas fractures)
- Levine and Edwards classification (hangman fracture)
- Allen and Ferguson classification (subaxial spine injuries)
- subaxial cervical spine injury classification (SLIC)
- thoracolumbar spinal fracture classification systems
- three column concept of spinal fractures (Denis classification)
- classification of sacral fractures
-
cervical spine fracture classification systems
- spinal fractures by region
- spinal fracture types
- classification (AO Spine classification systems)
- rib fractures
- sternal fractures
-
upper limb fractures
- classification
- Rockwood classification (acromioclavicular joint injury)
- AO classification (clavicle fracture)
- Neer classification (clavicle fracture)
- Neer classification (proximal humeral fracture)
- AO classification (proximal humeral fracture)
- AO/OTA classification of distal humeral fractures
- Milch classification (lateral humeral condyle fracture)
- Weiss classification (lateral humeral condyle fracture)
- Bado classification of Monteggia fracture-dislocations (radius-ulna)
- Mason classification (radial head fracture)
- Frykman classification (distal radial fracture)
- Mayo classification (scaphoid fracture)
- Hintermann classification (gamekeeper's thumb)
- Eaton classification (volar plate avulsion injury)
- Keifhaber-Stern classification (volar plate avulsion injury)
- upper limb fractures by region
- shoulder
- clavicular fracture
-
scapular fracture
- acromion fracture
- coracoid process fracture
- glenoid fracture
- humeral head fracture
- proximal humeral fracture
- humeral neck fracture
- arm
- elbow
- forearm
- wrist
-
carpal bones
- scaphoid fracture
- lunate fracture
- capitate fracture
- triquetral fracture
- pisiform fracture
- hamate fracture
- trapezoid fracture
- trapezium fracture
- hand
- shoulder
- classification
- lower limb fractures
- classification by region
- pelvic fractures
- hip fractures
- Pipkin classification (femoral head fracture)
- Garden classification (hip fracture)
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- Cooke and Newman classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- Johansson classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- Vancouver classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- femoral
- knee
- Schatzker classification (tibial plateau fracture)
- AO classification of distal femur fractures
- Meyers and McKeevers classification (anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture)
- tibia/fibula
- Watson-Jones classification (tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture)
- ankle
- foot
- Berndt and Harty classification (osteochondral lesions of the talus)
- Sanders CT classification (calcaneal fracture)
- Hawkins classification (talar neck fracture)
- Myerson classification (Lisfranc injury)
- Nunley-Vertullo classification (Lisfranc injury)
- pelvis and lower limb fractures by region
- pelvic fracture
- sacral fracture
- coccygeal fracture
-
hip
- acetabular fracture
- femoral head fracture
-
femoral neck fracture
- subcapital fracture
- transcervical fracture
- basicervical fracture
-
trochanteric fracture
- pertrochanteric fracture
- intertrochanteric fracture
- subtrochanteric fracture
- femur
- mid-shaft fracture
- bisphosphonate-related fracture
- distal femoral fracture
- knee
- avulsion fractures
- Segond fracture
- reverse Segond fracture
- anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture
- posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture
- arcuate complex avulsion fracture (arcuate sign)
- biceps femoris avulsion fracture
- iliotibial band avulsion fracture
- semimembranosus tendon avulsion fracture
- Stieda fracture (MCL avulsion fracture)
- patellar fracture
- tibial plateau fracture
- avulsion fractures
- leg
- tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture
- tibial shaft fracture
- fibular shaft fracture
- Maisonneuve fracture
- ankle
- foot
- tarsal bones
- metatarsal bones
- phalanges
- classification by region
- terminology
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.