Dislocation of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the finger is apparently rare except in the thumb. Closed reduction of this peculiar dislocation is usually unsuccusful.

In 195.7, Kaplan made a thorough study of dislocations of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger and emphasizsi that opsn redaction is usually necessary. He advocated a triple incision, that is, releass of ths anterior fibrocartilagenous plate, the natatory ligament, and the superficial transversa mstacarpal ligament, exposing the joint through a palmar approach.

In the index fingsr, the dislocated metacarpal head becomes firmly wedged between the f i broca- rtelagenoas plate and the superficial transverse metacarpal ligament. The flexor tendon traps the metacarpal head from the ulnar side and the lumbrical does so radially.

Bscause of the more radial course of the long flexor tendons, in the little finger the flexor tendons trap the mstacarpal head on ths radial side while the tendon of the abductor digiti minimi is the ulnar trapping element.

We expsrienced a case of dislocation of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger and a case involving the little finger which presented an essentially similar problem. As advocated by- Kaplan, a triple release was carried out with satisfactory results.

We report these rare and intresting cases with a review of literaure.