scholarly journals Percutaneous Reconstruction of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament of the Metacarpophalangeal Joint of the Thumb: Technique and Results

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (02) ◽  
pp. 101-108
Author(s):  
Juan Manuel Herrera ◽  
Lucas Herrera ◽  
Pablo Rotella ◽  
Raquel Cantero Téllez ◽  
Jimena Castellanos ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives The present study aims to describe a new percutaneous technique for the reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb with a tendon graft, and to evaluate the functional outcomes and stability six months postoperatively. Material and methods The percutaneous ligamentoplasty technique was performed with a palmaris longus tendon graft and tenodesis screws in 6 patients with ulnar instability of the thumb (> 30° degrees of radial deviation) for more than 6 weeks. Range of motion, grip strength, and pinch strength (lateral/key pinch, tip pinch, and palmar pinch) were assessed in comparison to the contralateral limb, as well as the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score. Results At 6 months, the joint movement was of 100%, the grip strength was of 94.8%, the key pinch was of 95%, the palmar pinch was of 85.7%, and the tip pinch was of 93.5% compared to the contralateral limb. The internal tilt was of 14° compared to 9° at the contralateral limb. The Quick DASH score decreased from 24.2 to 2.6 points. Conclusion We devised this versatile surgical procedure to obtain early mobility with the advantages related to the percutaneous techniques.

2000 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. I. MITSIONIS ◽  
S. E. VARITIMIDIS ◽  
G. G. SOTEREANOS

We report the results of a simple technique, using bone suture anchors and free tendon graft, for the reconstruction of chronic injuries of the ulnar collateral ligament complex at the thumb metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint. Our series includes 20 patients, with a mean age of 29 years. The mean follow-up period was 42 months. Using the Glickel grading system, 14 patients had excellent results and six had good results. Seventeen patients had no pain and three complained of mild pain with weather changes. Fourteen patients regained full stability of the MP joint and six had mild laxity. The mean loss of pinch strength was 18% compared with the contralateral thumb. The mean loss of motion at the metacarpophalangeal joint was 21%.


Author(s):  
Tobias Kastenberger ◽  
Peter Kaiser ◽  
Gernot Schmidle ◽  
Kerstin Stock ◽  
Stefan Benedikt ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction A new technology (Sportwelding®) was recently presented, which uses ultrasonic energy to meld a resorbable suture anchor at the interface with the host bone. A standardized clinical use was not investigated yet. This study prospectively evaluated the surgical and clinical outcomes of the Fiji Anchor® (Sportwelding®, Schlieren, Switzerland) in the repair of an ulnar collateral ligament lesion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. Material and methods The range of motion, grip and pinch strength, disability of arm, shoulder and the hand (DASH) and patient rated evaluation (PRWE) score, pain, satisfaction, complications and adverse events were assessed in 24 patients after surgical treatment for an acute displaced rupture or avulsion of the ulnar collateral metacarpophalangeal ligament of the thumb using the Fiji Anchor® after 6, 12 and 52 weeks. Results At final follow up, the range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint reached almost the contralateral side (49.3° SD 11.7°). Thumb opposition showed a Kapandji score of 9.7 (SD 0.5; range 9–10). Grip strength, the lateral, tip and the three jaw pinch showed nearly similar values compared to the contralateral side (83–101%). Pain was low (0.2 SD 0.7 at rest and 0.6 SD 1.0 during load). The DASH score was 5.0 (SD 7.3) and the PRWE score was 4.1 (SD 9.0). 81% of patients were very satisfied at final follow-up. Two patients were rated unstable during the follow-up period due to a second traumatic event. Three cases experienced difficulties during anchor insertion, whereby incorrect anchor insertion resulted in damage to the suture material; however, this was resolved after additional training. Conclusion One advantage of this anchor appears to be its stable fixation in cancellous bone. The surgical treatment of an ulnar collateral ligament lesion of the thumb using the Fiji Anchor® can lead to an excellent clinical outcome with a minor complication rate; however, long-term dangers and the cost effectiveness of the procedure are not known yet.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 107-112
Author(s):  
Mihajlo Mitrović ◽  
Dražen Jelača ◽  
Ivana Mitrović

Introduction: Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the thumb injury is a very common injury. However, due to the complexity of the ligament anatomy, the inexperience of doctors and unavailability of diagnostic procedures, the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb injury is most commonly overseen. The consequences are loss of thumb function, instability and pain in the metacarpophalangeal joint, and accelerated osteoarthrosis. For these precise reasons, there is a clear consensus that this injury should be treated operatively. Objective: The objective of this paper is to present the results of the pull-out technique for reconstructing the UCL ligament. Methodology: In between 2018 and 2020, we have operated on 11 patients with the UCL of the thumb rupture in our department. We approached the dorsoulnar side of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the thumb using the standard lazy S incision. In 9 out of 11 patients, a Stener ligament lesion was discovered. All patients had their ligament reconstructed using the pull-out technique, where the ligament was sewn through, then guided through a channel created using a K needle on the radial side of the base of the thumb. Postoperatively, a spica plaster orthosis was placed on the thumb. Results: The patients returned for re-evaluation 6, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery. Upon 24 weeks, the patients had no complaints regarding their thumb, they had full grip strength and could perform all the various grips. Two of the patients had a limited abduction amplitude of the thumb in the MCP joint, which didn't affect the outcome. There was no injury to the sensory branch of the radial nerve. Conclusion: The pull-out technique is a safe, quick and cheap operative technique for UCL of the thumb reconstruction.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7_suppl4) ◽  
pp. 2325967121S0024
Author(s):  
Manuel Schubert ◽  
Tariq Awan ◽  
Aaron Sciascia ◽  
Emily Pacheco ◽  
Jennifer DeMink ◽  
...  

Objectives: There has been a rise in elbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries in youth pitchers over recent years. With forearm flexor-pronator mass fatigue, the dynamic stability provided could be diminished placing greater stress on the UCL. Pitch count limits have been instituted in an attempt to help curtail this rise in throwing injuries, especially in youth athletes. In order to provide more objective data regarding current pitch count limits for youth pitchers, the purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate for potential fatigue of the flexor-pronator mass by assessing changes in medial elbow laxity, noninvasively characterizing changes in muscle glycogen storage within the forearm flexor-pronator mass, and evaluating changes in subjective fatigue, strength, range of motion (ROM), pitching velocity, and accuracy with increasing number of pitches thrown by 10-year-old pitchers up to their recommended 75 pitch count limit. Methods: After appropriate power analysis, male pitchers 10 years of age were recruited for the study (n=22). Pitchers threw a total of 75 pitches divided into sets of 25 pitches, with standardized periods of rest in between throws and sets to best simulate a game. Bilateral medial elbow laxity was measured by applying 10 decanewtons of valgus force with a standardized stress device and utilizing ultrasound imaging (Figures 1A-B) prior to pitching and after each pitching set. The change in medial ulnohumeral joint distance (Figure 1C) after stress was applied was calculated from baseline without stress. Relative changes in muscle glycogen storage, detected as changes in echogenicity, within the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) and the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS)/flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) muscles were measured non-invasively with ultrasound-based software (Figures 1D-E) and recorded as fuel percentile. Repeated measures analysis of variance and post-hoc testing were used to determine statistical significance (alpha=0.05). Results: There were no significant differences in medial elbow laxity between arms or time points. There was a trend for similar decline in FCR fuel percentile values between each arm, indicating relative decreases in glycogen storage bilaterally. However, only the throwing arm demonstrated a statistically significant decline in fuel percentile from baseline to after 75 pitches (p=0.05). There were no statistically significant differences across time points for FDS/FCU fuel percentile values. Fatigue measurements for both arms were significantly higher at all time points compared to baseline (p≤0.03). Grip strength of the dominant arm after 75 pitches was significantly decreased compared to after 25 pitches (p=0.02). There were no statistically significant changes in other strength measurements, ROM, velocity, or accuracy between all time points. Conclusions: By the recommended 75 pitch count limit in 10-year-olds, subjective fatigue and a decrease in grip strength had occurred. Furthermore, relative glycogen storage of the flexor-pronator mass of the throwing arm decreased between pitching 50 to 75 pitches, but without an increase in medial elbow gapping. This study provides a foundation and raises questions for further objective testing of physiologic changes that occur throughout increasing pitching to better guide pitch count limits and ensure the safety of young athletes


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (04) ◽  
pp. 601-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shunsuke Asakawa ◽  
Takeshi Ogawa

We managed a case of locked metacarpophalangeal joint of the little finger in the extension position. Incarceration of a chronic osteochondral fracture fragment led to this unique condition. The fracture fragment partially adhered to the volar plate and ulnar collateral ligament on the joint side, which is supposed to have resulted in manually irreducible locking of the joint. We performed open reduction and achieved release of the locked joint by excising the fracture fragment.


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