Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Tear Repair
Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University

Asif M. Ilyas, MD, MBA, FACS
Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University

Alexander D. Selsky, BS
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

The patient in this case was a 35-year-old male who presented to the clinic with pain of the right thumb but no numbness after a fall onto an outstretched hand that resulted in a forced hyperabduction of the thumb. There was mild weakness with thumb adduction due to significant pain, but there was no evidence of median or radial nerve injury, and the radial pulses were intact. A palpable mass was identified along the medial side of the MCP, suggestive of a Stener’s lesion, and he was ultimately found to have a complete UCL tear of the right thumb.

Here, Dr. Asif Ilyas at the Rothman Institute performs a repair of the UCL with the use of a 3-0 suture anchor placed in the anatomical footprint and a temporary 0.045 K-wire placed across the MCP joint for reinforcement.

Preview of the case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxdoYtjgZBE&ab_channel=JOMI-JournalofMedicalInsight