A 24-year old Moroccan athlete presented with Carpometacarpal joint dislocation. His injury occurred when he fell from his bike at a national competition.
What is Carpometacarpal joint dislocation?
Carpometacarpal joint dislocation is very rare. This condition occurs mostly in young adults and has a prevalence of 1%. However, these cases are extremely difficult to diagnose. Their diagnosis requires proper history, examination, and investigations.
The cycling accident
The young man was taken to the Emergency Department where he presented with complaints of pain, immobility in the right hand, and discomfort. He reported falling on his arm while cycling in the national competition. Additionally, he had no previous history of surgery or trauma.
Examination
The doctors observed significant edema and deformity in the dorsal aspect of his right hand. However, the doctors found no other serious findings. The young man had stable vitals. Therefore, there was no need for blood transfusion.
Investigations
X-ray of the hand showed dislocation of four carpometacarpal joints. Three carpometacarpal joints were displaced towards the palmar side. Additionally, one carpometacarpal joint was displaced dorsally.
Surgery
The doctors performed surgery immediately. During the surgery, they fixed the joints with open reduction. Furthermore, they immobilized his arm via a splint after the surgery.
Physiotherapy
He practiced hand exercises to increase his hand grip and strength. Thus, he was able to remove his splint after 6 weeks.
Follow up
The young man returned to work after 10 weeks. Moreover, he returned for a check-up after 2 years. X-ray showed no signs of carpometacarpal dislocation. Fortunately, he showed no symptoms of complications.
Reference:
https://jmedicalcasereports.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13256-018-1695-y
