Skier’s thumb is an acute partial or complete rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb’s metacarpophalangeal joint because of a hyper-abduction trauma of the thumb. The skier’s thumb refers to the cause of being an acute injury. Gamekeeper’s thumb specifically refers to the cause of being a chronic injury to the UCL in which it became attenuated through repetitive stress. Ulnar collateral ligament damage caused by chronic injury may have a serious risk of disabling instability, pinch strength, and pain-free motion if not skier’s thumb treatment is not adequately done. Here we describe skier’s thumb cause, symptoms & treatment.
Skier’s Thumb Cause, Symptoms & Treatment
Cause : Skier’s thumb is usually caused by forced abduction and hyperextension of the thumb. The Ulnar collateral ligament tears usually find a place at the distal attachment of the proximal phalange. However, proximal avulsion, proximal and distal bony avulsion, isolated mid-substance tears, and mid-substance tears with bony avulsion also occur.
Symptoms : The thumb will be swollen, bruised, and painful. Treatment comprises either a period of splintage or a repair of the ligament with an operation. The most necessary decision when deciding it uses that technique of treatment is distinguishing; Whether the ligament is partially or fully torn and if it’s torn, whether the ligament has displaced into an edge wherever healing might not be possible.
Making this decision may be possible with a gentle examination. But it’s hard to decide as the thumb is sore and swollen. It can use other methods to help assess the degree of injury. One may be to inject some local anesthetic around the thumb and examine the joint again. An x-ray may help if there is a fracture of a small bone fragment that it attaches the ligament to. Displacement of this fracture may show a complete tear. An ultrasound examination can help.
Treatment : If the ligament partially has torn, then a splint or cast is generally worn for six weeks. And after removal, they use a program of exercises to get the thumb moving again. It can take several weeks for the movement and the strength to return. If the ligament is totally torn, then an operation to repair it. This was followed by a similar period of splinting and subsequent exercise program.
For some patients, recommended to use splint to support the thumb after this type of injury when undertaking heavy activity. Your surgeon or therapist can advise on this.