• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2002

Purpose: We examined patients to evaluate the clinical results of traumatic metacarpophalangeal(M-P) dislocations of the thumb, uncommon and irreducible. Materials and Methods: In 11 traumatic M-P dislocations of the thumb, the types of dislocations were 10 dorsal and 1 volar dislocations resulted from the impacted and hyperextended forces on thumb. Authors evaluated the possibility of closed reduction, the anatomical structures interfering with closed reduction, and the surgical approaches. Results: Eight cases were treated with open reduction through volar approach and two cases were treated with closed reduction. Joint fusion was done with a plate in a chronic case. Initial closed reduction was attempted in all cases, but succeeded in only 2 cases because the interposed ruptured volar plate, the flexor pollicis brevis tendon and ulnar sesamoid bone at the volar side of the M-Pjoint were the obstacles to reduce. The metacarpal head was caught in button-hole slit between theflexor pollicis brevis and the ruptured volar joint capsule in all cases. Conclusion: Similar with the M-P joint dislocations of other fingers, the dorsal complex M-P dislocations of the thumb due to hyper extension are unusual and can't easily be reduced by closed manipulation. It is necessary to pay attention to the ruptured volar plate, capsule, the subluxated portion ofthe sesamoid and flexor pollicis brevis as interfering structures.