Trapeziometacarpal joint instability after Bennett's fracture-dislocation.
BACKGROUND
Investigation of trapeziometacarpal joint instability was undertaken following Bennett's fracture-dislocation.


METHODS
We treated six patients who were experiencing trapeziometacarpal joint instability following Bennett's fracture-dislocation. The average age of the patients at the initial visit was 22.2 years. There were four men and two women. All six patients complained of trapeziometacarpal joint pain and instability preoperatively. Fluoroscopy confirmed that the beak fragment moved with the shaft fragment. The length of time from injury to surgery ranged from 1 to 29 months (average 10.7 months). Ligament reconstruction based on Eaton's method was performed on five patients, and in one patient the fracture site was osteotomized and reduced and the dorsoradial ligament repaired.


RESULTS
Over an average follow-up observation period of 20 months, none of the patients complained of severe joint pain or instability.


CONCLUSIONS
When treating Bennett's fracture-dislocation, it is necessary to pay careful attention not only to accurate anatomic reduction of the joint surface but also to joint instability.
Nagaoka
Masahiro
M
Orthopaedic Department, Surugadai Nihon University Hospital, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Nagao
Soya
S
Matsuzaki
Hiromi
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D050279:Metacarpal Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D051223:Trapezoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging