Collateral Ligament Reconstruction of a Distal Interphalangeal Joint with Chronic Instability: A Case Report.

CASE A 33-year-old man presented with a painful instability of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint of the little finger after recurrent sports-related traumatic injuries. Stress testing and radiography demonstrated the instability of the ulnar collateral ligament. We performed an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction of the DIP joint using the palmaris longus tendon. One year after surgery, the patient reported a painless and stable DIP joint with good functional outcome. CONCLUSION This procedure could be a viable treatment option for active, high-demand patients experiencing chronic symptomatic instability of the DIP joint because of a longstanding tear of the collateral ligament.