Background Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a powerful method for evaluating acute and chronic lesions of the stabilizing articular elements (volar plate and collateral ligaments) of the fingers and thumbs, the condition of tendons, the presence of a tear, the number of affected tendons, the extent of tendon retraction, and the presence of associated lesions. This study was done to clarify the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessment of trauma-related injuries of the tendons and ligaments of the fingers and subsequently positively affect the surgical decisions in such cases. Results This study included 42 patients (33 males and 9 females) with a mean age of 35 years. All of them had history of trauma. Male affection was 78.5%, while females constituted only 21.5%, striking right-sided-hand affection (92.9%). The most affected finger was the thumb. The most common affected sites were extending from the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) till the proximal interphalangeal (PIP). The tendons were affected in 42.9%; meanwhile, ligamentous affection represented 57.2%. The flexor tendon tear represented by 28.6%%, while extensor tendon tear occurred in 14.3%. The study also showed that partial thickness tear is represented by 66.7%, while complete thickness tear occurred in about 33.3%. Bone marrow edema and post-traumatic tenosynovitis occurred in about 14% of cases. Conclusions Magnetic resonance imaging is an essential technique to obtain a correct pre-surgical diagnosis. It is of utmost importance to possess an in-depth knowledge of finger radiological anatomy in detail, as well as the appearance of the different pathologic entities on MRI. It provides a great assessment of the tendons and ligaments tear by whether partial or complete, any associated marrow edema or bony fragment avulsion and the extent of retraction in cases of complete tear.

No abstract

Background: MR imaging is a powerful method for characterization of swellings arising from the tendon sheath especially giant cell tumors and ganglion cyst of the tendon sheath. A trigger finger is a common condition and is either blockage or triggering of the finger from flexion to extension. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRI in non-traumatic finger tendon and ligament-related lesions to allow a more focused assessment of the soft tissue structures of this region. Patients and methods: This study was performed in Radiology Department, Menoufia University Hospitals, during the period from August 2018 to April 2020. This study included 44 patients; 25 males, 19 females with an age range from 13 years to 58 years (mean age 35 years). In terms of clinical presentation, 73% of cases presented by swelling and cases presented by pain were 27%. Results: Primary diagnosis by MRI revealed 50% of cases were giant cell tumors, 25% were ganglion cysts and the remainder were hemangiomas, MRI detection of characterization represented by 100%, the results then compared with pathology and laboratory results with accuracy of MRI in the detection of tissue characterization is 93.3%, MRI evidence of non-traumatic tenosynovitis constituted about 75% of all cases of tenosynovitis. On the other hand, only 25% of cases had a radiological diagnosis of trigger finger. Conclusions: MRI is a great assessment of the tendon and ligaments tear whether partial or complete, any associated marrow edema or bony fragment avulsion, and the extent of retraction in cases of a complete tear.