Closed complex dorsal dislocation of the middle finger metacarpophalangeal joint: Anatomic considerations and treatment

The term complex dislocation of the metacarpophalangeal joint implies an irreducible dislocation. In 1876, Farabeuf¹ described a complex metacarpophalangeal joint dislocation and recommended the dorsal operative approach in cases of complex dislocation of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint in order to release the volar plate that prevented the reduction. Isolated closed middle finger complex metacarpophalangeal joint dislocations are indeed rare.² There are three previous reports of middle finger complex metacarpophalangeal joint dislocation. One case involved a volar dislocation of the proximal phalanx trapping the dorsal capsule.³ The second case involved an open injury.⁴ The third case involved the simultaneous closed dorsal dislocation of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the middle and index fingers.⁵ We are reporting the initial case of an isolated closed middle finger complex metacarpophalangeal joint dislocation. This report demonstrates the pathologic anatomy and operative reduction using the dorsal approach.