The Two-Level Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury of the Metacarpophalangeal Joint of the Thumb

Abstract

Ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the thumb may present as avulsion fractures of the bone or as ligamentous tears. Displaced fracture fragments or Stener lesions demand operative management. Occasionally, both fracture and ligamentous tears may occur simultaneously, and the management of the ligamentous aspect may be overlooked in cases with undisplaced fractures leading to failure of non-operative treatment. It is important in cases with a relatively undisplaced fracture fragment to exclude a simultaneous ligamentous tear and Stener lesion by careful clinical examination and by examining the radiographs for telltale displaced flecks of bone.