Fractures of the metacarpals are a common injury and account for approximately thirty to forty percent of all hand fractures. The border digits are the most commonly affected. Fractures at the neck of the small finger metacarpal, also known as boxer’s fractures, are among the most common injuries to the hand. The highest incidence of metacarpal fractures occurs in men from the ages of 10 to 29, with a life-time expected occurrence of 2.5%. The injuries in this age group are most often related to trauma. In the younger and older age groups, an accidental fall is the most common cause of fracture
Authors - James A. Nunley II, M.D. Elizabeth Joneschild, M.D. Duke University Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Durham, NC 27710