Acute traumatic dislocation of the trapeziometacarpal joint treated by percutaneous pinning. Review of six cases

The authors report a series of six cases of acute traumatic dislocation of the trapeziometacarpal joint of the thumb. Displacement was always dorsoradial. There were associated osseous lesions in one patient: avulsion of the palmar tubercle of the base of the first metacarpal with a fracture of the trapezoid. All the patients were treated immediately by percutaneous pinning according to the technique of Wiggins. The late results, evaluated at an average of 19 months postinjury (range: 8-29 months), were considered to be satisfactory in the majority of the patients. Treatment by percutaneous pinning remains a less sophisticated alternative that in our experience yields consistently good results, provided there is no preexisting degenerative articular lesion. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.