Keywords
thumb - boutonnière - deformity - trauma
Introduction
The boutonnière deformity of the thumb consists of flexion of the metacarpophalangeal
(MCP) joint and extension of the interphalangeal (IP) joint. It is relatively common
in rheumatoid arthritis, and it is caused by involvement of the dorsal capsule of
the MCP joint secondary to inflammation of the synovial membrane, the hallmark of
this disease.[1] This capsular injury produces ulnar dislocation of the extensor pollicis longus
(EPL) tendon; this altered position results in MCP flexion, rather than extension,
in addition to IP hyperextension. A similar deformity can occur after traumatic rupture
of the dorsoradial capsule, with ulnar dislocation of the EPL tendon, accompanied
or not by a lesion of the extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendon. These traumatic cases
may not present IP joint hyperextension.[2]
[3]
[4]
The present article describes two cases of boutonnière deformity of the thumb secondary
to trauma in patients with no rheumatic disease. In addition, a review of the scarce
literature about this particular injury is presented, especially regarding its anatomy,
diagnosis, and treatment.
Case 1
A 27-year-old woman with no known history of rheumatological disease or any other
relevant medical condition. She was examined at the outpatient traumatology unit due
to pain and extension deficit of the MCP and IP joints of the right thumb. She reported
a traumatic twist of her thumb in an assault two months earlier.
The physical examination revealed 10° of flexion of the MCP joint and 20° of flexion
of the IP joint, with no active extension capacity. The EPL tendon was palpable on
the ulnar side of the finger, and was manually reduced, achieving a slight active
extension down to 0° in both the MCP and IP joints. There was no varus or valgus instability
at the MCP joint.
Plain radiographs showed a normal MCP joint, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
showed an intact EPL tendon with ulnar subluxation, and disruption of the dorsal capsule
in the area of attachment of the EPB; it was not possible to ascertain if this tendon
was intact. No injury to the radial or ulnar collateral ligaments of the thumb was
observed. Based on these findings, we decided for the surgical treatment of the lesion.
Intraoperatively, the dorsoradial capsule was ruptured, with partial detachment of
the EPB tendon at the capsular area and ulnar dislocation of the EPL tendon. The partial
EPB lesion was repaired with non-absorbable monofilament polypropylene suture (Prolene,
Ethicon, Inc., Bridgewater, NJ, US), whereas the dorsoradial capsule was repaired
with absorbable polyglactin suture (Vycril, Ethicon, Inc.) for the reduction of the
EPL dislocation ([Figure 1]).
Fig. 1 Intraoperative photograph of patient #1. Suture of the partial lesion at the extensor
pollicis brevis and the dorsoradial capsule to reduce the dislocation at the extensor
pollicis longus tendon.
The MCP joint was immobilized for four weeks. After that, the patient started the
rehabilitation treatment. Two weeks later, the patient came to the emergency department
complaining of acute pain in the operated thumb due to recurrence of the boutonnière
deformity ([Figure 2]). Another surgery was performed, revealing disruption of the dorsoradial capsule
and ulnar dislocation of the EPL tendon, this time with no involvement of the EPB
tendon ([Figure 3]). A capsular suture was performed with Vycril for the reduction of the EPL dislocation.
A different surgical technique was not performed because the quality of the remaining
capsule was considered sufficient to repeat the same procedure.
Fig. 2 Clinical photograph of patient #1, revealing clinical recurrence of the boutonnière
deformity with no extension to the interphalangeal joint.
Fig. 3 Intraoperative photograph of patient #1, revealing recurrence of the boutonnière
deformity, disruption of the dorsoradial capsule, and ulnar dislocation of the extensor
pollicis longus tendon.
After six weeks of immobilization, the rehabilitation treatment was resumed. The patient
was lost to follow-up two months after the second surgery, and she came to the outpatient
service 21 months later with a new clinical recurrence. Since the patient prefers
an expectant treatment, no surgery will be performed, at least for now.
Case 2
A 39-year-old man with no known history of rheumatological disease or any other relevant
medical condition. He came to our emergency room brought by a conventional ambulance
after falling off a motorcycle. He presented radial and distal metaphyseal-diaphyseal
ulnar fractures on the left side, with open distal radioulnar dislocation, Gustilo-Anderson
grade I ([Figure 4]). Immobilization and prophylactic antibiotic treatment with cefazolin and gentamicin
were performed, followed by surgery 12 hours after admission. Open reduction was performed
using a double approach and internal fixation of the fracture with low-contact dynamic
compression plates (LC-DCP) ([Figure 5]).
Fig. 4 Plain, posteroanterior and profile radiographs of the left wrist and distal third
of the forearm, revealing radial and distal ulnar metaphyseal-diaphyseal fractures,
with radial-distal ulnar dislocation.
Fig. 5 Plain, posteroanterior and profile radiographs of the forearm. Internal fixation
with low-contact dynamic compression plates (LC-DCP) of the lesion shown in [Figure 4].
In an outpatient follow-up visit two weeks after surgery, a thumb extension deficit
was observed, but specifics on the physical examination are unknown because it was
not performed by the author, and its findings were not recorded at the patient's medical
history file. The rehabilitation treatment started and lasted for approximately two
months. Since there was no improvement, an ultrasound examination was performed, and
revealed no injuries at the extensor apparatus. However, considering the clinical
suspicion of eupture of the EPL tendon, surgery was indicated. Intraoperatively, the
tendon was intact, but plication was performed due to suspicion of EPL elongation.
A splint was placed and kept for 6 weeks, followed by rehabilitation. The patient
still presented extension deficit, and he was referred for evaluation at the Hand
Unit 15 months after the first surgery, 13 months after the second procedure.
A physical examination revealed a classic boutonnière deformity of the thumb with
40° of flexion at the MCP joint and 40° of extension at the IP joint ([Figure 6]). The MCP joint presented no varus or valgus instability. Since there was no swelling
or pain at the MCP region, and the EPL tendon was not palpable at the ulnar area,
the patient agreed to an exploratory surgery at the extensor apparatus of the thumb.
Fig. 6 Clinical photograph of patient #2, revealing recurrence of the boutonnière deformity
with extension to the interphalangeal joint.
The intraoperative assessment revealed a rupture of the dorsal expansion of the adductor
pollicis (AP) with significant fibrosis, but no involvement of the EPB tendon, and
a radial dislocation of the EPL tendon ([Figure 7]). The dorsal expansion remnant of the AP was sutured to the dorsal capsule for the
reduction of the EPL. Two Kirschner wires transfixed the MCP, and the patient used
a cast for 6 weeks. Next, both the cast and the Kirschner wires were removed, and
rehabilitation started.
Fig. 7 Intraoperative image of recurrence of the boutonnière deformity with rupture of the
adductor. This image also reveals a radial dislocation of the extensor pollicis longus
tendon, which was reduced using an Adson forceps.
The patient presented progressive clinical recurrence up to 9 months after the last
surgery. A surgical revision was offered, but the patient refused it and requested
discharge from the outpatient clinic.
Discussion
Traumatic boutonnière deformity of the thumb is an exceptional injury. There are a
number of articles about injuries of the dorsal capsule of the MCP joint,[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6] but only two reports specifically mentioned it by name,[2]
[4] with a total of seven patients.
The dorsal region of the MCP joint consists of two planes. The deepest plane corresponds
to the level of the dorsal capsule. The EPB passes above it until its attachment on
the capsule or the proximal phalanx. The most superficial plane corresponds to the
dorsal expansions of the AP medially, and the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) laterally.[3]
Traumatic boutonnière deformity of the thumb is a combination of dorsoradial capsule
injuries, which may include a complete or partial lesion of the EPB attachment,[2]
[3]
[4] as seen in the two cases herein presented. The dorsal expansion of the AP drags
the EPL tendon towards the ulnar, changing its force vector; as such, the MCP joint
is flexed when the patient tries to extend the thumb. The author did not find any
previous article, either in Spanish or English, describing that this deformity could
result from an AP lesion with radial EPL dislocation, as in the second case.
The diagnosis is clinical, based on the flexion of the MCP joint of the thumb and
an inability to extend it. Unlike the boutonnière deformity resulting from rheumatic
disease, extension of the IP joint is not required, possibly because the dorsal expansion
of the AP joint prevents the proximal migration of the EPL tendon.[2] For instance, IP involvement was not observed in the first case, but it was present
in the second patient. Pressure on the ulnar side of the MCP joint by the examiner
can realign the dislocated EPL tendon, leading to extension of the MCP joint.[2] When the deformity results from an AP injury, palmar flexion of the wrist can place
the EPL tendon over its normal force vector, leading to extension of the MCP joint,
as in the second patient ([Figure 8]).
Fig. 8 Clinical photograph of patient #2. In the boutonnière deformity of the thumb caused
by injury of the adductor pollicis, palmar flexion of the wrist can normalize the
force vector of the extensor pollicis longus tendon, resulting in metacarpophalangeal
extension.
An injury diagnosed in its acute form can be treated conservatively with immobilization
with thumb extension and satisfactory functional outcomes.[2]
[3]
[4] For chronic lesions, the treatment can be both conservative and surgical, mostly
obtaining good functional outcomes,[2]
[3]
[4] in contrast to the cases reported in the present article. The surgical techniques
used in the literature consist of suture repair or EPB reattachment when it was affected,
suture of the capsular lesion and immobilization with Kirschner wires for 4 to 6 weeks.[4] This is the technique used in both cases. Suturing of the EPL to the EPB to keep
it on the dorsum of the MCP joint has also been described.[3]
