title: An anatomic study of the stabilizing ligaments of the trapezium and trapeziometacarpal joint.
abstract: We provide a detailed and comprehensive anatomic description of the ligaments stabilizing the trapezium and trapeziometacarpal joint. Sixteen ligaments were identified. Fourteen ligaments inserted onto the trapezium and 2 others attached independently to the thumb metacarpal. The ligaments inserting onto the trapezium were the superficial anterior oblique, deep anterior oblique (beak ligament), dorsoradial, posterior oblique, ulnar collateral, dorsal trapezio-trapezoid, volar trapezio-trapezoid, dorsal trapezio-second metacarpal, volar trapezio-second metacarpal, trapezio-third metacarpal, volar scaphotrapezial, radial scaphotrapezial, transverse carpal, and trapezio-capitate ligaments. The remaining 2 ligaments attach onto the thumb metacarpal and are the proper intermetacarpal and the dorsal intermetacarpal. The dorsoradial and deep anterior oblique ligaments play a substantial role in stabilizing the trapeziometacarpal joint, and the deep anterior oblique ligament may function as a pivot for the first metacarpal during palmar abduction to allow rotation (pronation). The dorsal trapezio-second metacarpal, volar trapezio-second metacarpal, and trapezio-third metacarpal ligaments function as tension bands and are required to prevent instability from cantilever bending forces on the trapezium.
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Bettinger
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Linscheid
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Cooney
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: An
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006225:Hand / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D013933:Thumb / Q000033:anatomy & histology*