[Diagnosis and treatment of ligament injury of the thumb base joint. Results within the scope of follow-up].

Distortions and ruptures of the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb represent 6% of hand injuries in alpine skiing and 8% in ski-skating. 155 patients who had been treated for ligamentous rupture (88), for osseous rupture with dislocation of the fragment (42) and for osseous rupture without any dislocation (25) wer reviewed: in 106 patients with conservative treatment 64 had stable joints and 42 showed a ligamentous instability. After surgical treatment in 49 patients 44 had ligamentous stability; 5 joints (10%) showed a radial instability. Summarizing the results we found instability after conservative treatment in 40%, but only in 10% of surgically treated patients. Recommendations for the treatment of this frequent hand injury are given.