title: Idiopathic extension contracture of the little metacarpophalangeal joint.
abstract: We describe 4 patients with an extension contracture of the little metacarpophalangeal joint without definite cause. We encountered this entity only in adolescent girls. When treated conservatively, we observed no improvements in motion. The main pathology of this entity was a hypertrophied dorsal capsule. The 2 patients treated by surgical release of the fifth dorsal capsule and collateral ligaments achieved considerable flexion 2 years later.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ewha Womans University, School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. kimjk@ewha.ac.kr
authors.forename: Jae Kwang
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyung-Mook
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003286:Contracture / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000473:pathology*; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery