Ghost Hardware

Patients with Skier's Thumb, an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tear, have instability and pain with pinching. This injury can lead to arthritis if not stabilized.

In this case, an Arthrex Internal Brace system was used to stabilize the joint and augment the repair of the ligament. The hardware is made of a synthetic material which has a similar strength to bone, and does not appear on x-rays. You can see the drill holes in the lateral view (right) but not the hardware - believe it or not, it is in place, securing the joint.

Using the Internal Brace system to augment fixation really helps to accelerate the rehabilitation process. The traditional method used to rely on a metal pin crossing the joint, which could lead to infection, stiffness, or other problems. Now, patients are able to get moving earlier, which leads to better outcomes.