title: Idiopathic osteonecrosis of the third metacarpal head.
abstract: Osteonecrosis of the metacarpal head is a rare disease entity and there are only a few isolated case reports in the literature. No single modality of treatment can be recommended as ideal. In this report, we describe a patient who presented with changes resembling avascular necrosis at the third metacarpal head of the right hand. It presented as a 2-week history of sudden onset of pain in the region of the right third metacarpophalangeal joint with limitation of flexion. We treated the 51-year-old male patient by curettage, debridement and multiple drilling. At 1-year follow-up, the patient was symptom-free and showed improved range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint (0 to 80 degrees). He returned to his original work 2 weeks after the operation without limitation of daily activities. This report presents a new operative treatment that improved the functional outcome of osteonecrosis of the metacarpal head.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Hsiao
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Wen-Chih
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chih-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular