Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Stener-like lesion of the lateral collateral ligament of the first metatarsophalangeal joint

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Displaced ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb, also known as Stener lesions, are a well-recognized clinical entity, requiring surgical intervention because of the trapped location of the torn lateral collateral ligament superficial to the adductor aponeurosis of the thumb. We report a similar lesion located at the first metatarsophalangeal joint, to our knowledge the first ever described in the literature. In our patient, magnetic resonance imaging showed a full-thickness tear of the lateral collateral ligament of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, as well as a full-thickness tear of the extensor hood, with dislocation of the proximal part of the ruptured lateral collateral ligament to a position superficial to the extensor hood. Analogous to true Stener lesions, we are convinced these patients also need early surgical repair. Therefore, we would like to raise awareness about their existence to ensure adequate management of these lesions, in order to prevent possible long-term complications like chronic pain, instability, and joint degeneration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Campbell CS. Gamekeeper’s thumb. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1955;37-B(1):148–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Stener B. Displacement of the ruptured ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the thumb. A clinical and anatomical study. Bone Joint J. 1962;44-B(4):869–79.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Stern PJ. Stener lesion after lateral dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint—indication for open reduction. J Hand Surg Am. 1981;6(6):602–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Doty JF, Rudd JN, Jemison M. Radial collateral ligament injury of the thumb with a Stener-like lesion. Orthopedics. 2010;33(12):925.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Coffey MJ, Stadnick ME, Thirkannad SM. Re: "Stener-like" lesion in the little finger. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2009;34(2):269–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Faivre S, Bellumore Y, Mansat P, Dautel G, Merle M, Mansat M. Rupture of the radial collateral ligament of the fifth metacarpopharyngeal joint. A case report with Stener effect. Chir Main. 2002;21(3):198–201.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Ishizuki M, Sugihara T, Wakabayashi Y, Shirasaka R, Aoyama H. Stener-like lesions of collateral ligament ruptures of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the finger. J Orthop Sci. 2009;14(2):150–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Toffoli A, Chammas M. Stener-like lesions due to radial collateral ligament rupture in the metacarpophalangeal joints of two adjacent fingers: a case report and review of literature. Hand Surg Rehabil. 2017;36(2):141–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Corten K, Hoser C, Fink C, Bellemans J. Case reports: a Stener-like lesion of the medial collateral ligament of the knee. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2010;468(1):289–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Keyhani S, Mardani-Kivi M. Anatomical repair of Stener-like lesion of medial collateral ligament: a case series and technical note. Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2017;5(4):255–8.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Madan SS, Pai DR, Kaur A, Dixit R. Injury to ulnar collateral ligament of thumb. Orthop Surg. 2014;6(1):1–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Thirkannad S, Wolff TW. The “two fleck sign” for an occult Stener lesion. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2008;33(2):208–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ebrahim FS, De Maeseneer M, Jager T, Marcelis S, Jamadar DA, Jacobson JA. US diagnosis of UCL tears of the thumb and Stener lesions: technique, pattern-based approach, and differential diagnosis. Radiographics. 2006;26(4):1007–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Melville D, Jacobson JA, Haase S, Brandon C, Brigido MK, Fessell D. Ultrasound of displaced ulnar collateral ligament tears of the thumb: the Stener lesion revisited. Skelet Radiol. 2013;42(5):667–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hergan K, Mittler C, Oser W. Pitfalls in sonography of the gamekeeper’s thumb. Eur Radiol. 1997;7(1):65–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hergan K, Mittler C, Oser W. Ulnar collateral ligament: differentiation of displaced and nondisplaced tears with US and MR imaging. Radiology. 1995;194(1):65–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Lohman M, Vasenius J, Kivisaari A, Kivisaari L. MR imaging in chronic rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb. Acta Radiol. 2001;42(1):10–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Spaeth HJ, Abrams RA, Bock GW, Trudell D, Hodler J, Botte MJ, et al. Gamekeeper thumb: differentiation of nondisplaced and displaced tears of the ulnar collateral ligament with MR imaging. Work in progress. Radiology. 1993;188(2):553–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Braspenningx.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Braspenningx, S., Rezaie, W. & Simons, P. Stener-like lesion of the lateral collateral ligament of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Skeletal Radiol 47, 413–417 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-017-2790-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-017-2790-7

Keywords

Navigation