{
  "abstract": "Complex intra-articular fractures of the proximal phalanx of the thumb present significant management challenges due to comminution, displacement, and the thumb's essential functional role. Traditional fixation techniques may risk soft-tissue injury or fail to provide stable conditions for early mobilization. Dynamic external fixation (DEF) using ligamentotaxis offers a minimally invasive alternative, though its use in comminuted proximal phalanx fractures of the thumb remains sparsely reported. This report describes two male patients with displaced, comminuted intra-articular fractures of the base of the proximal phalanx, resulting from a crush injury and a fall from height. Computed tomography imaging confirmed substantial articular displacement in both cases. Both patients underwent mini-open reduction under fluoroscopic guidance, followed by placement of a ligamentotaxis-based DEF. This technique restored articular congruity while minimizing soft-tissue disruption. Both patients recovered uneventfully with preserved neurovascular function, maintained fracture reduction, near-normal range of motion, grip strength recovery of 90-95%, full thumb opposition, and return to work within four to five weeks. These cases support ligamentotaxis-based DEF as a feasible option for comminuted intra-articular fractures of the proximal phalanx base of the thumb.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Trauma and Orthopedic, Arm and Hand Microsurgery Unit, Medcare Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital, Dubai, ARE."
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mohammad A Ali"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9mxkr6xtmnp1w.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.7759/cureus.116681",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13687636",
  "id": "9mxkr6xtmnp1w",
  "issns": [
    "2168-8184"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923452",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2746|Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213986798",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13687636?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13687636",
  "pmid": "42923452",
  "published": "2026-09-21",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9mxkr6xtmnp1w.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:02Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42923452",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923452"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2746|Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation",
      "subfield": "surgery"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Ligamentotaxis-Based Dynamic External Fixation for Comminuted Intra-articular Fractures of the Proximal Phalanx Base of the Thumb: A Report of Two Cases.",
  "title_text": "Ligamentotaxis-Based Dynamic External Fixation for Comminuted Intra-articular Fractures of the Proximal Phalanx Base of the Thumb: A Report of Two Cases.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:21:02Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9mxkr6xtmnp1w",
  "venue": "Cureus",
  "versions": []
}