Acute Thumb Dislocations and Ligament Injuries

Thumb is an independent and mobile unit and is in the mostly traumatized part of the hand. According to our data in volleyball players it is involved in 45% of acute hand traumas. Among the three thumb joints MCP is the most involved in ligament injury in sport activity with its ulnar collateral ligament being the most often ruptured. Injuries of CMC joint are less frequent, but instability and subsequent arthritis as a result of misdiagnosis can lead to severe thumb and hand dysfunction. Conservative treatment is quite effective for vast majority of acute thumb ligament tears and joints dislocations. But in some situations like Stiner's injury of ulnar collateral ligament of the 1st MCP, surgical treatment is a method of choice. Diagnostic and treatment features of thumb joints soft tissue stabilizers are described in this chapter.