CHRONIC FINGER JOINT INSTABILITY RECONSTRUCTED WITH BONE–LIGAMENT–BONE GRAFT FROM THE ILIAC CREST

Five patients with chronic instability of digital joints presented with instability and functional disability. Two patients had ulnar collateral ligament damage of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint and another had chronic multidirectional instability due to radial collateral ligament, dorsal capsule and palmar plate laxity of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. The fourth patient had a lax radial collateral ligament and palmar plate of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the little finger and the fifth had chronic laxity of the ulnar collateral ligament of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb. All were reconstructed with bone–ligament–bone graft harvested from the iliac crest. The graft was fixed with screws and joint stability was achieved intra-operatively in all patients. All patients achieved a stable joint with improved functional performance at final follow-up