EC Orthopaedics

The thumb provides up to 40% of the function of the hand. Injuries to the radial collateral ligament (RCL) of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) are much less common than ulnar collateral ligament (CCL) injuries. Cast or splint immobilization is recommended to treat grade I and grade II acute tears; however, there is no consensus for the treatment of grade III (complete) tears. In chronic RCL lesions, a dorsoradial prominence occurs at the MPCJ, resulting in weakness and pain during activity. There are many surgical treatment options for chronic tears, including CSF soft tissue advancement, abductor pollicis brevis reconstruction, and free tendon grafts. Our objective is to present a clinical case of chronic lesion of the RCL of the thumb associated with a surgical history of supernumerary thumb resection where the reconstruction of the radial structures was not performed in the same surgical act.

Keywords: Radial collateral ligament; Chronic injury; Metacarpophalangeal joint; Thumb

1. , et al. “Results of Surgical Treatment of Acute and Chronic Grade II Tears of the Radial Collateral Ligament of the Thumb Metacarpophalangeal Joint”. Journal of Hand Surgery American 31.1 (2006): 68-75.
2. Cates RA., et al. “Botox and Thumb MCP Radial Collateral Ligament Reconstruction”. Journal of Wrist Surgery 7 (2018): 156-159.
3. , et al. “Radial Collateral Ligament Injury of the Thumb with a Stener-like Lesion”. Orthopedics 33.12 (2010): 925.
4. Kibar B and Malkoç FE. “Reconstruction of chronic thumb metacarpophalangeal radial collateral ligament injuries with free tendon grafts”. Joint Diseases and Related Surgery1 (2020): 62-67.
5. Moran SL and Berger RA. “The biomechanics of hand trauma: what you need”. Hand Clinics 19 (2003): 17-31.