Traumatic boutonniere deformity of the thumb.

We report three patients who presented 3 to 8 months after sustaining a closed injury to the dorsoradial aspect of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. All three patients had an extensor lag of the metacarpophalangeal joint and paradoxical hyperextension of the interphalangeal joint. There were no collateral ligament injuries. The patients required surgical treatment which included advancement and reattachment of the extensor pollicis brevis insertion and imbrication of the dorsoradial capsule to restore the anatomical alignment of the extensor pollicis longus. Surgical treatment of dorsoradial injuries to the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint may be required for injuries that result in subluxation of the extensor pollicis longus tendon and a boutonnière deformity of the thumb.

Trigger finger in children.

At the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, 239 trigger digits in 176 children were seen and treated surgically over a 10-year period. Trigger fingers accounted for 33 (14%) of these digits in 18 (10%) of the patients. In 8 of 18 patients (44%) the fingers continued to trigger after A-1 pulley release. In children, trigger fingers are different from trigger thumbs. Trigger fingers in children are uncommon and have variable causes, and an A-1 pulley release alone will not always correct the triggering. Additional treatments, such as resection of one or both limbs of the sublimis tendon or an A-3 pulley release, may be required. An awareness of other contributing factors and readiness to explore the entire flexor mechanism should help prevent failure of surgical treatment.

Distal thumb reconstruction using a mini wrap-around flap from the great toe.

We have used a great toe mini wrap-around flap for reconstruction of the thumb at, or distal to, the interphalangeal joint. Our series included 12 patients with traumatic amputations. A flap including the entire nail and most of the distal phalanx of the great toe was used. Eleven of the grafts survived. Sensibility was good with an average of 10 mm static two-point discrimination (range, 5-15) and there were no complaints of cold intolerance. All patients were pleased with the appearance of the thumb and there was no significant morbidity at the great toe donor site. The great toe mini wrap-around flap is an excellent reconstruction technique for selected patients with distal thumb amputations.