Acute gamekeeper's thumb. Quantitative outcome of surgical repair

Abstract

Ten consecutive patients with 11 complete ulnar collateral ligament tears who had early surgical repair were evaluated at an average of 42 months' followup. The mean arc of motion at the metacarpophalangeal joint at 50.9 degrees was less than the 73.7 degrees seen in the uninjured thumbs. At the interphalangeal joint, the mean arc of motion in the injured thumb was 101.6 degrees compared with 112.6 degrees on the uninjured side. Ulnar laxity was decreased slightly compared with the contralateral thumb (14.0 degrees versus 15.3 degrees) and radial laxity was 10.3 degrees on both sides. The mean grip strength and key pinch were similar between the injured and uninjured sides: grip strength was 32.3 kg in the injured thumbs and 34.0 kg in the uninjured; key pinch was 8.1 kg in the injured thumbs and 8.8 kg in the uninjured. Good stability with slight decrease in motion was obtained in our patients.