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Simultaneous Bilateral Functional Radiography in Ulnar Collateral Ligament Lesion of the Thumb: An Original Technique

Am J Orthop. 2015 August;44(8):359-362

In any thumb injury, particularly one caused by hyperabduction, an ulnar collateral ligament lesion (gamekeeper’s or skier’s thumb) must be considered. If the diagnosis is suspected, and radiographs show no fracture, comparative radiographs should be obtained in forced valgus.

This examination, which uses a stress test to cause joint tilt, is crucial in making an accurate diagnosis and deciding on the most appropriate therapeutic approach. The forced valgus maneuver typically is performed by the examiner, who must stay with the patient in the radiography room and wear radiologic protection.

We report on a simple, reliable, reproducible method that allows the patient’s thumbs to be compared, under the same force application conditions, on a single radiograph. This technique reduces the patient’s and examiner’s exposure to x-rays and is well tolerated by the patient. Anesthesia for the thumb is usually not necessary.

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References

1. Campbell CS. Gamekeeper’s thumb. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1955;37(1):148-149.

2. Stener B. Displacement of the ruptured ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb: a clinical and anatomic study. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1962;44(4):869-879.

3. Stener B. Hyperextension injuries to the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb: rupture of ligaments, fracture of sesamoid bones, rupture of flexor pollicis brevis. An anatomical and clinical study. Acta Chir Scand. 1963;125:275-293.

4. Coonrad RW, Goldner JL. A study of the pathological findings and treatment in soft-tissue injury of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint. With a clinical study of the normal range of motion in one thousand thumbs and a study of post mortem findings of ligamentous structures in relation to function. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1968;50(3):439-451.

5. Parikh M, Nahigian S, Froimson A. Gamekeeper’s thumb. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1976;58(1):24-31.

6. Kaplan EB. The pathology and treatment of radial subluxation of the thumb with ulnar displacement of the head of the first metacarpal. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1961;43:541-546.

7. Yamanaka K, Yoshida K, Inoue H, Inoue A, Miyagi T. Locking of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1985;67(5):782-787.

8. Sennwald G, Segmüller G, Egli A. The late reconstruction of the ligament of the metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the thumb [in English, French]. Ann Chir Main. 1987;6(1):15-24.

9. Smith RJ. Post-traumatic instability of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1977;59(1):14-21.

10. Louis DS, Huebner JJ Jr, Hankin FM. Rupture and displacement of the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. Preoperative diagnosis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1986;68(9):1320-1326.

11. Heyman P, Gelberman RH, Duncan K, Hipp JA. Injuries of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint. Biomechanical and prospective clinical studies on the usefulness of valgus stress testing. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1993;(292):165-171.

12. Ritting AW, Baldwin PC, Rodner CM. Ulnar collateral ligament injury of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint. Clin J Sport Med. 2010;20(2):106-112.

13. Cooper JG, Johnstone AJ, Hider P, Ardagh MW. Local anaesthetic infiltration increases the accuracy of assessment of ulnar collateral ligament injuries. Emerg Med Australas. 2005;17(2):132-136.

14. Noszian IM, Dinkhauser LM, Straub GM, Orthner E. Ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the thumb. Dislocation caused by stress radiography in 2 cases. Acta Orthop Scand. 1995;66(2):156-157.

15. Heim U. Simultaneous functional bilateral radiographies of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb in hyper-pronation [in French]. Ann Chir Main. 1982;1(2):183-186.

Gamekeeper’s or skier’s thumb is caused by an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the thumb. The mechanism of injury is forced radial and palmar abduction and hyperextension.

This lesion was initially described in 1955 by Campbell.¹ It occurred in gamekeepers who worked in preserves in Scotland. The UCL was injured because of the way they killed rabbits—hence, gamekeeper’s thumb. Now these injuries are more common in skiers—skier’s thumb. In skiers, the mechanism of injury is the force exerted by the ski pole strap on the thumb during a fall. This injury is also seen in breakdancers.^1,2

Different lesions can result, the most common being that of the UCL. The UCL lesion may be partial, with no joint instability,^3,4or total, with instability and subdislocation of the proximal phalanx.^5-9Rupture of the thumb adductor aponeurosis and displacement of the long extensor have been described as the cause of thumb instability.^6-8

UCL rupture can occur in its extension or can cause a fracture-tearing in the proximal phalanx.^9-12Intra-articular fractures are sometimes found. The essential problem in UCL injuries is the impossibility of spontaneous healing once the rupture is complete, because of the Stener effect. (When the UCL ruptures, its proximal part retracts and runs above the fibrous expansion of the adductor muscle, which is interposed between the 2 parts of the ruptured UCL and prevents healing, even if the thumb is immobilized.) In these cases, only surgery can repair the lesion.²

In any thumb injury, particularly one caused by hyperabduction, a UCL lesion should be considered. The main problem is diagnosing sprain severity, which is evidenced by the degree of joint hypermobility. Radiologic examination should be performed in all cases to rule out fracture with tear, posterior capsular tear, palmar plate tear, and palmar subdislocation of the proximal phalanx, all of which are associated with UCL tearing.^7-9

If the diagnosis is suspected, and radiographs show no fracture, comparative radiographs should be obtained in forced valgus.

Technique

In each hand, the patient holds a cylindrical object, such as a drinking glass (standard diameter, 7.5-8.5 cm). We use an elastic crepe bandage roll (diameter, 7.5 cm; width, 10 cm). This roll is common in emergency departments (EDs) and easily accessible. The patient holds the rolls in his or her hands with the thumbs in the posteroanterior position (Figures 1–3) and places himself or herself on a 18×24-cm frame or directly on the radiography table.

Both thumbs are captured on a single functional radiograph for comparison of forced valgus of the MCP joints, as in our example cases. The patients provided written informed consent for print and electronic publication of these case reports.

Case Reports

Control Case

The single functional radiograph of both thumbs showed no evidence of joint laxity on the valgus stress test (Figure 4).

Case 1

A 72-year-old woman landed on her left hand when she fell backward while supporting the hand on a piece of furniture. She presented to the ED with pain in the region of the thumb and thenar eminence. Posteroanterior and lateral radiograph projections showed no significant bone injury (Figure 5). Given the patient’s persistent pain, the traumatologist suspected damage to the thumb UCL, so a simultaneous bilateral functional radiographic projection was obtained. The projection showed joint laxity, implying damage to the thumb UCL. Repair and reinsertion of the UCL were performed using a bone harpoon suture.

Case 2

A 58-year-old man sustained a left hand injury when, using both hands, he tried to catch hold of a falling wooden plank. When he presented to the ED the following week, he was given a diagnosis of thumb contusion and forced hyperabduction and was wearing a metal strap for immobilization. Radiographs showed no bone damage (Figure 6). Thumb UCL injury was suspected on the basis of the physical examination findings and the mechanism of injury. A bilateral simultaneous functional radiographic projection showed significant joint laxity. Surgical treatment with the pull-out technique was performed.

Case 3