Abstract
Introduction The collateral ligaments of the first metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint provide stability
to the thumb. Injury to these collateral ligaments occurs more commonly in sports
accidents leading to joint instability, weakness in pinch and grip strength. Normal
morphometric measurements of collateral ligaments are essential for primary repair
or reconstruction of the injured ligament. Hence, the objective of the study is to
give the detailed morphometric profile of the proper collateral ligaments of the MCP
joint of the thumb.
Materials and Methods A total of 55 adult cadaveric hands were included in the study taken from 18 male
(36 hands) and 10 female (19 hands) cadavers. Out of 55 hands, 28 belonged to the
left side, while 27 were of the left side. The MCP joints were dissected to expose
the collateral ligament complex. The length and width of the proper ligaments were
measured.
Results Both the proper collateral ligament attachments and the direction of the fibers were
defined. Overall length and the width of both the proper collateral ligaments showed
no statistically significant difference of mean between the left and the right sides.
However, the length of both the proper collateral ligaments is significantly less
in females compared with the males.
Conclusion The morphometric details of the proper collateral ligaments obtained from this study
would be useful for hand surgeons during surgical correction of the injured collateral
ligaments either by primary repair or reconstruction with a tendon graft.
Keywords
collateral ligaments - thumb - morphometry - reconstruction
