fbpx

Rolando fracture

Rolando fracture: Comminuted T- or Y-shaped intra-articular three-part fracture through the base of the first metacarpal (thumb) first described in 1910 by Silvio Rolando (1873-1949).

Since Rolando’s original report of the Y pattern intra-articular fracture, the eponymous fracture has now come to include all multi-fragmentary intra-articular base of thumb metacarpal fractures.

Now more commonly referred to as an ‘intra-articular thumb metacarpal base fracture with three or more segments‘ or a comminuted Bennett fracture. This is an unstable injury that requires surgical reduction and fixation. Current treatment is an external fixator accompanied by the tension band wiring.

NOTE: Comminuted two-part base of first metacarpal fracture known eponymously as Bennett fracture, first described by Edward Hallaran Bennett in 1882


Imaging
  • Routine views of the thumb adequately define the nature of the fragment(s).
  • CT scans may be performed as part of the definitive management work-up.
Rolando fracture thumb metacarpal
Rolando fracture

History of the Rolando fracture

1910Silvio Rolando publishes ‘Fracture de la base du premier metacarpien’ in which he reports the outcomes and treatment of twelve thumb metacarpal fractures in port workers. Two cases involved the diaphysis and in the other ten, the metacarpal base. Of the base fractures, two were extra-articular fractures; five Bennett fractures; and three were Y pattern intra-articular fractures. It was these previously undescribed Y pattern fractures that became the focus of his paper and the basis of hi eponym.

Anatomy and Mechanism

Toutes  les  fois  donc  que  la  violence exercée au long  de l’axe longitudinal du métacarpe agit plus  intensément ou plus  longuement, elle ourrait entraîner aussi la fracture du procès  articulaire plus  résistant,  c’est-à-dire du  procès  dorsal. Dans ce cas-là il se produit une  fracture en Y par laquelle  l’extrémité supérieure du premier métacarpien reste partagé en trois  fragments, dont deux, correspondant  à  la  base, sont respectivement dorsal et palmaire, et l’autre correspond au corps de l’os.

Dans  les  trois  cas  de  fractures  en Y,  le  facteur  étiologique  est  représenté  dans  un  cas  par  un  coup  de poing  fortement vibré  contre  la  tête  de  l’adversaire,  le  pouce  étant  replié  et  serré  dans  la paume de  la  main; dans les deux autres cas par chute sur le côté radial de la main avec le pouce en  adduction.

Rolando 1910; 33: 303–304

When trauma occurs to the long axis of the metacarpal, it can cause a fracture of the dorsal process. In this case, a Y shaped fracture is produced by which the proximal first metacarpal is divided into 3 fragments of which 2 parallel the base, dorsal and palmar respectively, and the other corresponds to the body of the bone.

In the 3 cases of Y fractures, the etiologic factor is represented in 1 case by a blow with a closed fist, very strongly against the head of the adversary with the thumb folded and held into the palm of the hand, in the other 2 cases by a fall on the radial side with the thumb in adduction.

Rolando 1910; 33: 303–304

Rolando fracture 1910
A, diaphyseal fragment; B, dorsal fragment; C, palmar fragment. Rolando fracture 1910
Prognosis

Le pronostic est défavorable au point de vue fonctionnel toutes les fois que de telles fractures, (principalement quand les fragments en sont mobiles et le déplacement remarquable) sont abandonnées à elles-mêmes, ou n’ont pas reçu un traitement convenable.

The prognosis is unfavorable from the functional point of view whenever this fracture (principally when the fragments are mobile and there is noticeable displacement) is left to itself or has not received the appropriate treatment

Treatment

Rolando abducted and extended the thumb to reduce the fracture. He immobilised the thumb in traction, by applying two small bands of diachylon on the dorsal and palmar sides of the thumb followed by a plaster cast to the thumb and wrist. As Rolando suspected a ‘considerable tendency for the displacement to recur’ he recommended cast immobilisation for 3 weeks.

Il résulte de mes observations qu’il existe un type de fracture de la base du premier métacarpien, qui n’avait pas encore été décrit à ce que je sache. Cette fracture, que j’ai observé trois fois sur dix cas de fracture de la base, est consécutive à une violence qui agit suivant l’axe longitudinal du métacarpe; elle possède une forme en Y, ne peut pas se distinguer de la fracture de Bennett sans l’intervention radioscopique, et, comme celle-là, elle exige un traitement spécial.

Rolando 1910; 33: 304

I have found that there exists a type of fracture of the base of the first metacarpal that has not yet been described as far as I know. This fracture that I have noticed in 3 cases of 10 of base fractures follows an injury acting along the longitudinal axis of the metacarpal. It has a Y form and cannot be distinguished from a Bennett’s fracture without radiographic studies, and like the Bennetts’s fracture, it has to have a special kind of treatment.

Rolando 1910; 33: 304


Associated Persons

Alternative names
  • Rolando’s fracture
  • Intra-articular thumb metacarpal base fracture with three or more segments

References

Original articles

Review articles


[cite]


Rolando Bennet fractures compared 1
Rolando Bennet fractures compared labelled
Bennet fracture and Rolando fracture comparison [drag slider to view labels]

BA MA (Oxon) MBChB (Edin) FACEM FFSEM. Emergency physician, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.  Passion for rugby; medical history; medical education; and asynchronous learning #FOAMed evangelist. Co-founder and CTO of Life in the Fast lane | Eponyms | Books | Twitter |

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.