Volar subluxation of the metacarpal-phalangeal joint: a case report. 2012

Matthew J Pirotte, and James Saucedo, and Danielle McCarthy
Department of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA. m-pirotte@md.northwestern.edu

Dislocations and subluxations at the metacarpal-phalangeal joint are rare and volar or palmar subluxations represent a small fraction of these. A 54-year-old man presented with an injury to his right hand; he had heard a pop while putting down a weight. He had normal vital signs, and his examination revealed a deformity at the third metacarpal-phalangeal joint. Plain radiographs did not reveal a fracture. The diagnosis of volar subluxation was made after consultation with a hand surgeon. Attempts at closed reduction in the emergency department were unsuccessful, and he was splinted with plans for follow-up. There are several characteristics of this injury that present a diagnostic challenge: most patients are able to make a fist due to intact flexor mechanism, the deformity is subtle and may be masked by swelling, and lateral radiographs tend not to image the joint well. Recognition of this injury and hand surgery consultation are essential because most described cases required open reduction.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008662 Metacarpophalangeal Joint The articulation between a metacarpal bone and a phalanx. Joint, Metacarpophalangeal,Joints, Metacarpophalangeal,Metacarpophalangeal Joints
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D004204 Joint Dislocations Displacement of bones from their normal positions at a joint. Inferior Dislocation,Joint Subluxations,Luxatio Erecta,Dislocation, Joint,Dislocations, Joint,Inferior Dislocations,Joint Dislocation,Joint Subluxation,Subluxation, Joint,Subluxations, Joint
D004636 Emergency Service, Hospital Hospital department responsible for the administration and provision of immediate medical or surgical care to the emergency patient. Emergency Outpatient Unit,Emergency Services Utilization,Hospital Emergency Room,Hospital Emergency Service,Hospital Emergency Services Utilization,Accident and Emergency Department,Emergency Departments,Emergency Hospital Service,Emergency Room,Emergency Units,Emergency Ward,Hospital Service Emergency,Service, Hospital Emergency,Department, Emergency,Departments, Emergency,Emergencies, Hospital Service,Emergency Department,Emergency Hospital Services,Emergency Outpatient Units,Emergency Room, Hospital,Emergency Rooms,Emergency Rooms, Hospital,Emergency Services, Hospital,Emergency Unit,Emergency Wards,Emergency, Hospital Service,Hospital Emergency Rooms,Hospital Emergency Services,Hospital Service Emergencies,Hospital Service, Emergency,Hospital Services, Emergency,Outpatient Unit, Emergency,Outpatient Units, Emergency,Room, Emergency,Room, Hospital Emergency,Rooms, Emergency,Rooms, Hospital Emergency,Service Emergencies, Hospital,Service Emergency, Hospital,Service, Emergency Hospital,Services Utilization, Emergency,Services Utilizations, Emergency,Services, Emergency Hospital,Services, Hospital Emergency,Unit, Emergency,Unit, Emergency Outpatient,Units, Emergency,Units, Emergency Outpatient,Utilization, Emergency Services,Ward, Emergency,Wards, Emergency
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013165 Splints Rigid or flexible appliances that are used to maintain a displaced or movable part in position, or to maintain the position of and protect an injured part. Dynamic Orthoses,Dynamic Splint,Dynamic Splinting,Dynamic Splints,Static Orthoses,Static Splint,Static Splinting,Static Splints,Dynamic Splintings,Splint,Splint, Dynamic,Splint, Static,Splinting, Dynamic,Splinting, Static,Splints, Dynamic,Splints, Static,Static Orthose

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