Dislocation of the trapezio-metacarpal joint

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Traumatology
• Hand Surgery

Background:

• Traumatic dislocations of the trapezio-metacarpal (TMC) joint are uncommon injuries.
• Previous literature often equates TMC joint dislocations without fracture to reducible and stable injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the notion that all acute traumatic trapezio-metacarpal joint dislocations are inherently stable after reduction.
• To differentiate TMC joint dislocations from fractures like Bennett's fracture.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical cases and radiographic findings of acute traumatic TMC joint dislocations.
• Analysis of post-reduction stability and functional outcomes.

Main Results:

• Acute traumatic trapezio-metacarpal joint dislocation is not invariably associated with post-reduction instability.
• A subset of these dislocations may present with or develop instability.
• The injury mechanism and radiographic presentation can differ significantly from a typical Bennett's fracture.

Conclusions:

• Traumatic trapezio-metacarpal joint dislocations require careful evaluation for stability, as they are not uniformly stable after reduction.
• These injuries should be considered a distinct entity, not merely a variant of a "Bennett's fracture without a fracture".