Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

Introduction: Radial collateral ligament injuries of the thumb are rare, especially in adolescent athletes. We present a case of a 17-year-old female cheerleader who sustained a complete radial collateral ligament tear while basing during a cheerleading stunt.

Case Report: The patient presented to the emergency department with pain in the right thumb after catching a falling flyer. Examination of the first metacarpophalangeal joint of the right thumb revealed tenderness and laxity. Radiographic imaging showed no fracture. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a complete radial collateral ligament tear. She underwent surgical repair with full recovery.

Conclusion: This case highlights an uncommon thumb ligament injury in a non-traditional mechanism. Emergency physicians should consider radial collateral ligament tears in patients with metacarpophalangeal joint tenderness, even when radiographs are normal.