Non-operative

Once the joint is perfectly reduced, it is mostly stable and may be buddy-taped to an adjacent finger and range of motion exercises begun as the swelling and pain settle. The torn structures settle and provide good stability, with no compromise in function

Operative

Operative management is undertaken if the joint cannot be reduced by closed means, if it is an open dislocation, if there is an associated unstable fracture that needs to be fixed, or if there is persistent instability of the finger following rehabilitation and a ligament reconstruction needs to be performed.

Metacarpal dislocations are quite commonly associated with metacarpal fractures, or, more rarely, occur in isolation. These dislocations are more unstable once reduced than finger dislocations, as the joint is less constrained. If the dislocation is unstable, it requires either temporary fixation with a wire, or a bridge plate to keep it reduced while it heals.