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METACARPOPHALANGEAL JOINT
5
Metacarpophalangeal Joint
By: Prabhleen Dhaliwal
Definition
Anatomy of metacarpophalangeal joint
The metacarpophalangeal joint is known as the joint that attaches the metacarpals to the phalanges in the hands.
Ligaments
The Metacarpophalangeal joint has 3 ligments:
- Collateral ligament
- Palmar ligament
- Deep transverse metacarpal ligaments
Ligaments
Function
Collateral ligament: The main function of this ligament is to limit medial and lateral movement to keep the joint aligned.
Palmar ligament: The function of this ligment is to help prevent the hyperextentions of the fingers (MCP joint).
Deep transverse metacarpal ligaments: The function of this ligament is to limit abduction it also prevents the metacarpals from splaying.
Movement
Finger
- Finger flexion
- Finger abduction
- Finger extension
- Finger adduction
Muscles, Tendons, and Bones
Tendons
Flexor pollicis brevis: A muscle in the hand that helps to flex the thumb.
Flexor pollicis longus muscle: A long muscle in the arm (forearm) a part of the flexors.
extensor digitorum: Muscle in the forearm that extends the four digits of the hand.
Bones
Muscles, Tendons and Bones
- Metacarpals
- Phalanges (single bone phalanx)
Injury
A common injury that may occur to the metacarpophalangeal joint would be a dislocation. Where the phalanges seperate from the metacarpals at the joint. It's painful and it can cause the finger to look deformed also making it hard to move or do certain movements.
Injury
Signs and Symptoms
- The joint or finger looks disfigured and out of place.
- Swollen or bruising.
- Pain when moving and limited movement.
Signs and Symptoms
Treatment of Dislocation
Treatment of a dislocated metacarpophalangeal joint would be immobilization of the joint when its put into place so that it won't move. Without the movement of the joint it would be able to heal fast in 2-3 weeks.
Treatments
Taping and Bracing
For taping the metacarpophalangeal joint the best tape job would be finger hyperextention or contact thumb. The finger hyperextention would help to keep the finger in place so it won't hyperextend. For the contact thumb the tape job would immobilize the thumb so that it won't move helping the thumb.
Taping and Bracing of the joint
Stretching or Exercise
Some stretches for the metacarpophalangeal joint:
- Put fingers on the edge of a surface and push palm downwards.
- Flexion stretches
- Extension stretches
Stretching or Exercise of the Joint
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2839319/
- https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/metacarpophalangeal-mcp-joints
- https://blog.physical-sports.co.uk/2014/09/29/sprained-knuckle-taping/
- Classroom presentation