Abstract

Background: Metacarpal and phalangeal fractures are common hand injuries that directly impair daily activities and hand function. Kirschner wire fixation remains one of the most widely used surgical treatment methods. This study aimed to apply and compare the effectiveness of the QuickDASH and the Brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (BriefMHQ) in evaluating surgical outcomes following fixation of metacarpal and phalangeal fractures.

Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted on 36 patients diagnosed with metacarpal and/or phalangeal fractures who underwent surgical fixation using Kirschner wires at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital from February 2025 to February 2026. Bone union, total active motion (TAM), and functional outcomes assessed by QuickDASH and BRIEFMHQ were evaluated at a minimum of 3 months postoperatively.

Results: Among patients who completed adequate follow-up (n = 36), the mean postoperative QuickDASH and BRIEFMHQ scores were 14.3 ± 20.8 and 84.0 ± 20.3, respectively, indicating good functional recovery of the hand. A very strong inverse correlation was observed between the two scoring systems (r = −0.90; p < 0.001). After score normalization, no statistically significant difference was found between QuickDASH and BriefMHQ in postoperative functional assessment (p = 0.170).

Conclusion: Both QuickDASH and BriefMHQ are effective tools for evaluating surgical outcomes of metacarpal and phalangeal fracture fixation. No significant difference was observed between the two scoring systems in postoperative functional assessment