Background: The optimal fixation of metacarpal fracture should provide sufficient stability to permit early function for all types of fracture. However, it must preserve surrounding soft tissue during application and not require secondary removal due to its prominence. The prototype of metacarpal locked intramedullary nail (MCLN) was designed by our institute aiming to achieve those all features.
Objective: To biomechanically test our newly designed, locked metacarpal nail and compare with common current available
fixation methods.
Material and Method: Thirty chicken humeri were devided into 3 groups (n = 10 per group) according to fixation techniques:
MCLN, 1.5 mm miniplate (Synthes), and Kirschner wire. After complete fixation, all specimens were osteotomized at midshaft
creating transverse fractures. Five specimens from each group were tested by load of failure under axial compression, and another five under bending force.
Results: In axial compression model, the loads to failure in MCLN group was greatest (460+17 N), which was significant
higher than the Kirschner wire group. The MCLN group also showed the highest load to failure in bending test (341+10 N).
This value reaches statistical significance when compared with plate and Kirschner wire groups.
Conclusion: The MCLN construct provided higher stability than miniplate and Kirschner wire fixation both in axial and bending mode. Together with the minimally invasive and soft tissue-friendly design concept, this study suggests that MCLN is
promising fixation option for metacarpal fracture.

Keywords: Metacarpal, Metacarpal fracture, Locked intramedullary nail, Minimal invasive fixation