R. Horch et Gb. Stark, ABDUCTOR POLLICIS BREVIS PLASTY FOR THERA PY OF RADIAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT RUPTURE OF THE THUMB, Zentralblatt fur Chirurgie, 120(12), 1995, pp. 959-962
Untreated radial collateral ligament rupture of the thumb metacarpopha
langeal joint may lead to an impairment of thumb function. The treatme
nt is basically similar to ulnar ligament trauma management. Due to th
e rarity of this lesion, consistent guidelines for therapy have not ye
t been described. In contrast to fresh injuries a refixation of the di
srupted ligament usually is not possible when chronic instability has
already occurred. Following functional-anatomic considerations a dynam
ic joint stabilization method has been developed by transposition and
thus reestablishing the functional direction of the abductor pollicis
brevis muscle. Thus the physiological radial ligament vector is replac
ed and a functional ligament replacement is achieved through a technic
ally simple procedure.