Surgical treatment of complex metacarpophalangeal joint dislocation

Abstract

Dorsal dislocations of the metacarpophalangeal joint (MPJ) are relatively uncommon injuries. Complex dislocations of metacarpophalangeal dorsal dislocations are characterized with extended MPJ without flexion and flexed distal joints. Complex dislocation injuries usually require surgical reduction. A 25-year-old male patient was admitted with pain, swelling, and tingling following a hyperextension injury. X-rays demonstrated dorsal dislocation of the proximal phalanx of the index finger without fracture. Open surgical reduction was planned via volar approach. Treating a complex MPJ dislocation with closed reduction is rarely successful. Especially, the volar approach is useful in open dislocations, and anatomy of the volar structures can be best explored and demonstrated.

Keywords

• complex dislocation
• dorsal dislocation
• metacarpophalangeal joint