ISOLATED INJURIES TO THE DORSORADIAL CAPSULE OF THE THUMB METACARPOPHALANGEAL JOINT

Isolated injuries to the dorsoradial capsule of the thumb metacarpopha langeal joint are rarely reported. We report 11 patients who had a tea r in the dorsoradial capsule of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint wi thout an associated collateral ligament injury. Seven of the injuries were confirmed at surgical exploration and repaired by imbrication/dir ect repair. Six of these seven patients were able to return to unrestr icted activies without requiring analgesics. The surgical patients had increased baseline metacarpohalangeal joint flexion compared to ''ave rage,'' which may predispose them to isolated capsular injuries.