Imaging finger joint instability with ultrasound

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Closed injuries to finger and thumb joints are frequent in athletes.
• These injuries can lead to joint instability and long-term disability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review common closed joint injuries of the thumb and fingers in athletes.
• To highlight ultrasound features of specific injuries: collateral ligament tears, palmar plate injuries, and sesamoid fractures.

Main Methods:

• Review of common athletic finger joint injuries.
• Focus on ultrasound imaging findings.
• Discussion of anatomy, injury mechanisms, and soft tissue abnormalities.

Main Results:

• Ultrasound is crucial for identifying collateral ligament tears.
• Ultrasound aids in diagnosing palmar plate injuries.
• Ultrasound can detect thumb sesamoid fractures.

Conclusions:

• Understanding anatomy, injury mechanisms, and imaging findings is critical for diagnosing closed finger joint trauma.
• Accurate diagnosis through imaging can improve patient outcomes.