Imaging Case of the Week 224 Answer

The frontal view of the left hand shows an intra-articular fracture of the base of the thumb metacarpal, i.e. a Bennett fracture.

bennett-fracture

A Bennett fracture is an unstable injury. The distal metacarpal shaft gets pulled laterally by the APL, causing separation of the fracture fragment. All such injuries need referral to a hand surgeon for operative management.