Interesting Case Series Thumb Interphalangeal Joint Dislocation

A 23-year-old man presented to the emergency department with the after being struck in the hand with a basketball. Clinical findings are seen in the image above. QUESTIONS 1. What is the nature of the injury seen above? 2. What is the role of radiography in clinical workup? 3. What are the common causes of failed reduction attempts in thumb interphalangeal (IP) joint dislocations? 4. How are open thumb IP joint dislocations best managed? DISCUSSION The patient in the image above sustained an open IP joint dislocation of the right thumb. The distal phalanx was dorsally displaced and radially rotated. IP joint dislocations occur following axial load to outstretched fingers. The thumb is a relatively stable joint, and open dislocations of the IP joints are relatively uncommon, with less than a dozen cases reported in the literature.1 Radiographs are needed in all hand injuries. Plain radiographs will demonstrat