The ''two fleck sign'' for an occult Stener lesion

We report a case of distal pull-off of the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb with two fracture fragments. The more obvious fracture fragment, seen on plain X-ray to be lying adjacent to the expected location of the attachment of the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb, was, in fact, unassociated with it and was part of the attachment of the adductor pollicis muscle. A second smaller fleck of bone which was attached to the displaced collateral ligament was only observed on plain X-ray on retrospective review. This second fleck of bone identified that this was a Stener lesion, requiring surgical reattachment of the ligament. Similar cases in the literature are reviewed and the use of MRI in detecting these lesions is discussed.