“Is surgery needed for a distal rcl tear in pinky finger?”
I just received results from an MRI on my finger, but I am not able to see my doctor in person to go over the results for a few weeks. Does this result mean I need surgery?
EXAM: MR FINGER(S) WITHOUT CONTRAST LEFT
CLINICAL HISTORY: Fifth finger pain. Suspect MCP RCL tear.
COMPARISON: None.
TECHNIQUE: T1-weighted and T2-weighted fat-saturated axial, T1-weighted, STIR, and gradient echo coronal, proton density-weighted fat-saturated, and T2-weighted fat-saturated sagittal images were obtained through the left hand.
FINDINGS: Increased signal within and loss of definition of the distal end of the radial collateral ligament at the fifth MCP consistent with RCL tear.
Muscle signal is preserved. Tendon signal is preserved. Marrow signal is preserved.
No abnormal joint effusion is seen.
IMPRESSION:
1. Distal RCL tear at the fifth MCP joint.
EXAM: MR FINGER(S) WITHOUT CONTRAST LEFT
CLINICAL HISTORY: Fifth finger pain. Suspect MCP RCL tear.
COMPARISON: None.
TECHNIQUE: T1-weighted and T2-weighted fat-saturated axial, T1-weighted, STIR, and gradient echo coronal, proton density-weighted fat-saturated, and T2-weighted fat-saturated sagittal images were obtained through the left hand.
FINDINGS: Increased signal within and loss of definition of the distal end of the radial collateral ligament at the fifth MCP consistent with RCL tear.
Muscle signal is preserved. Tendon signal is preserved. Marrow signal is preserved.
No abnormal joint effusion is seen.
IMPRESSION:
1. Distal RCL tear at the fifth MCP joint.
Male | 36 years old
Complaint duration: 1.5 Months
1 Answer
The short answer is likely, but it also depends on what you do for a living… If you are in a blue-collar type occupation, repair would likely be more needed.
