Sixteen cases of complete rupture of the collateral ligament of the proximal interphaingeal joint of the fingers and metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb, treated surgically, were reviewed.
Twelve acute and two chronic cases were repaired by the pull-out method, one acute case was sutured at the middle of the ligament and one chronic case of thmetacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb was reconstructed by rerouting the extensor pollicis brevis tendon after Strandell. The results of the operation were satisfactory in 80% of all cases. No instability was seen by stress test, but range of motion was limited slightly in some cases. The factors influencing the results were considered to be age, complicated injury and the interval between injury and operation.
