Oblique traction on the thumb metacarpal, originally described for the
treatment of Bennett's fracture, has been applied to comminuted
intra-articular fractures of the thumb metacarpal to counter the forces
that cause shortening and varus angulation. It also has been applied to
fractures of the trapezium to restore congruity of the trapeziometacarpal
joint. It was successful in achieving and maintaining a satisfactory
reduction in eight patients with these three types of fractures.