Photo by ToastyKen
The injury results in swelling around the joint, reflecting
soft tissue injury.
Mild forces result in disruption of the volar plate, a collagenous structure that forms the floor of the joint. In this case, a 43 year old male suffered an injury to his finger two years ago, and reinjured his finger several weeks before he was sent for his MRI.
Photo by xadrian
Mild forces result in disruption of the volar plate, a collagenous structure that forms the floor of the joint. In this case, a 43 year old male suffered an injury to his finger two years ago, and reinjured his finger several weeks before he was sent for his MRI.
A sagittal T2 fatsat image reveals disruption of the volar
plate of the PIP joint (red arrow) and dorsal subluxation of the middle phalanx
(yellow arrow):
Volar plate injuries can be a pure soft tissue injury, but
can also be associated with fractures at the attachment of the volar plate on
the base of the middle phalanx. With more substantive force, there can be tears
of the collateral ligament, and this can create joint instability.
Most volar plate tears are treated conservatively, with
splinting and buddy taping. If an injury cannot be reduced, one should suspect
interposition of soft tissue structures.
Fracture-dislocations that are unstable, exhibit persistent subluxation
of the middle phalanx, or involve large portions of the articular surface
should be referred for surgical fixation.
Vic David MD
Orthoradiology.com
Vic David MD
Orthoradiology.com
1 comment:
What are the risky activities that can cause this condition? Although the article image seems to suggest basketball, but I guess the 43-year old man did not play basketball to hurt his finger twice? I believe wearing a thumb brace could have prevented further injuries before the scan.
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