A meta-analysis of injury to collateral ligaments of metacarpo-phalangeal joints other than the thumb: incidence, management and outcome

Abstract

Background: The incidence for the injury to the collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) of fingers other than the thumb is unknown. Methods: We carried out a systematic review of the literature using several search engines and several MeSH terms. A meta-analysis of the incidence, mechanism of injury, diagnosis, management, and outcome was performed. Results: A total of 164 injuries were reported. A lot of the data was missing. The mean age was 43.32 years with no gender differences. The majority of the injuries were for the right hand, little finger and index finger. In 31.1% of the collateral ligament injuries cited in the literature, the radial collateral ligament (RCL) was the injured site. Surgical intervention was the main reported type of management and 30% of those who underwent conservative management required a surgical intervention. Conclusion: This is the first meta-analysis of all the case reports and case series in the literature. It highlights the importance of early diagnosis and treatment and calls for standardizing the reporting of these injuries to avoid data gaps in future reviews.