Rolando Fracture eMedicine Orthopedics

Description: Rolando fracture initially was described in 1910 in a series of 12 metacarpal base fractures, of which 3 involved a Y-shaped split of the joint surface.1 The fracture was described as having 3 major fragments: metacarpal shaft, dorsal metacarpal base, and volar metacarpal base. Currently, the term has come to include essentially all comminuted thumb metacarpal base fractures. The initial treatment options that were described mainly focused on closed treatment, either cast immobilization or a short period of splinting followed by early motion to mold joint surfaces. With the advent of internal fixation techniques, especially smaller implants, interest in operative treatment has increased over the past few decades.
Synonyms and related keywords: comminuted thumb metacarpal base fractures, fractures of the thumb base, thumb injury, broken thumb, thumb fracture, juxta-articular metaphyseal fracture, Bennett fracture
Author: John J Walsh IV, MD 2007