[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.