title: [Surgical treatment of ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reconstruction of the ruptured ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint of the thumb.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ruptured ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb MP joint with instability: joint opening of more than 30° in flexion and more than 20° in extension, Stener lesion, displaced avulsion fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Abrasions, wound-healing disturbance, skin disease, osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Curved skin incision dorsoulnar above the thumb MP joint. Protection of the branches of the superficial radial nerve. Incision of the adductor aponeurosis. Exposing the ulnar collateral ligament; opening and examination of the joint. Depending on the injury, primary suture repair, transosseous suture, repair with a bone anchor, osteosynthesis with K-wires or small screws in avulsion fracture, ligament reconstruction in chronic instability or older injury.
  Cast splint of the MP joint until swelling subsides; cast immobilization for 6 weeks; range-of-motion exercises, avoiding forced radial deviation of the MP joint for 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete joint stability 3 months postoperatively in all 34 patients with rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand-, Plastische und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universität Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Straße 6, 97080, Würzburg, Deutschland. christineziegler@gmx.net.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand-, Plastische und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universität Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Straße 6, 97080, Würzburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Neshkova
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand-, Plastische und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universität Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Straße 6, 97080, Würzburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand-, Plastische und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universität Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Straße 6, 97080, Würzburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meffert
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand-, Plastische und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universität Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Straße 6, 97080, Würzburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakubietz
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand-, Plastische und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universität Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Straße 6, 97080, Würzburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jakubietz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D000070637:Collateral Ligament, Ulnar / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013933:Thumb / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000070638:Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Collateral ligament; Ligament repair; Osteosynthesis, fracture; Rupture; Thumb