Axial ulnar carpometacarpal disruption

Carpal injuries resulting from antero-posterior compression forces demonstrate unusual axial fracture–dislocation patterns. This distinctive injury was first described by Oberst in 1901 [1] and involves a traumatic longitudinal disruption of the carpus and its respective metacarpals. Flexor retinaculum disruption, permitting flattening of the carpal arch is common to all these injuries. Ogunru [2] and Norbeck et al. [3] however, reported cases of incomplete axial disruption, where the proximal carpal row and flexor retinaculum remain intact. No subsequent cases have been discovered in the literature. In this report, we describe a further case of an incomplete axial–ulnar carpometacarpal disruption with an oblique fracture of the body of the hamate and an intact proximal carpal row.