Acute Isolated Dislocation of the Trapeziometacarpal Joint: Report of Two Clinical Cases

The integrity of the trapeziometacarpal joint (TMCJ) of the thumb is affected by the functional capacity of the ligaments involved in its construction to prevent its instability. Dislocations of the TMCJ generally appear as injuries accompanied by intra-articular fractures of the base of the first metacarpal or the trapezium. Isolated dorsolateral dislocations of the TMCJ are a very rare injury with an incidence of 1%. The optimal therapeutic procedure is crucial for restoring pinch and grasp strength, but in the international literature there is no consensus regarding the best management, since there is a lack of evidence showing the superiority of one treatment over another. The aim of this study was to describe two cases that were presented to the emergency department with a dorsolateral subluxation of the TMCJ and, based on these cases, to recall the modalities of adequate treatment for this injury which were reported in the literature.