Finger joint dislocations are a common sports injury which present in the accident and emergency department. Foremost among these injuries is the dorsal dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint caused by a hyperextension injury. These dislocations may be classified as stable (types I and II) or unstable (type III).¹ Treatment depends on the stability of the joint, whereby stable dislocations may be treated by closed reduction but unstable dislocations require surgical intervention. We report the unusual case of an unstable PIP joint dislocation masquerading as a stable injury, which could have caused significant concern if closed reduction had been …