[Surgical treatment of ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint].

OBJECTIVE

Reconstruction of the ruptured ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint of the thumb.

INDICATIONS

Ruptured ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb MP joint with instability: joint opening of more than 30° in flexion and more than 20° in extension, Stener lesion, displaced avulsion fractures.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Abrasions, wound-healing disturbance, skin disease, osteoarthritis.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Curved skin incision dorsoulnar above the thumb MP joint. Protection of the branches of the superficial radial nerve. Incision of the adductor aponeurosis. Exposing the ulnar collateral ligament; opening and examination of the joint. Depending on the injury, primary suture repair, transosseous suture, repair with a bone anchor, osteosynthesis with K-wires or small screws in avulsion fracture, ligament reconstruction in chronic instability or older injury.

POSTOPERATIVE TREATMENT

Cast splint of the MP joint until swelling subsides; cast immobilization for 6 weeks; range-of-motion exercises, avoiding forced radial deviation of the MP joint for 3 months.

RESULTS

Complete joint stability 3 months postoperatively in all 34 patients with rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament.