Gamekeeper’s thumb can normally be treated by resting and icing the thumb joint and wearing a protective cast for a few weeks. In the case of severe damage or a tear, an individual may need to undergo surgery to ensure a full recovery. Most cases of Gamekeeper’s thumb result from acute, rather than chronic, pressure on the joint.
What is gamekeeper’s Thumb and how can hand therapy help?
Eventually hand therapy is used to restore function and range of motion to the thumb. How can Dr. Knight help you with Gamekeeper’s Thumb? Working in sports medicine, Dr. Knight is very familiar with this type of injury and is well versed in its treatment.
How long does it take for a gamekeeper’s thumb to heal?
How long does gamekeeper’s thumb take to heal? Whether treated conservatively or with surgery, the recovery time for a gamekeeper’s thumb is generally from four to six weeks, either in a cast and splint or splinted after surgery. A period of physical therapy will be integral to the recovery process, to ensure that the ligament heals correctly.
What is gamekeeper’s thumb (skiers thumb)?
Gamekeeper’s Thumb, also known as Skier’s Thumb, results from acute or chronic injury of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Ligaments are strong, flexible, fibrous connective tissues that connect bone to bone.
What are the tests for gamekeeper's thumb?
There are no laboratory tests that aid in the detection of gamekeeper's thumb, but physical examination will allow the doctor to determine the precise nature of the injury, and if the ligament has been partially or fully severed.
How do you treat gamekeeper's thumb?
How can you care for yourself at home?Put ice or a cold pack where your thumb connects to your hand. ... Rest your thumb and hand.Ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve).More items...
How long does it take to recover from a thumb ligament surgery?
Grip and hand strength may come back as early as 3 - 4 months after surgery, but it can take up to 6 - 12 months to fully recover and obtain maximum improvement. In most cases, you will be transitioned to a cast at your follow up appointment and then a removable brace at approximately 6 weeks post-surgery.
Is UCL thumb surgery painful?
You will generally have no pain, and the numbing medication usually lasts about 8 or more hours, so you will leave the surgery center with no pain.
What is the surgery for a torn ligament to thumb?
UCL repair surgery is a procedure to treat an injury to the UCL, the soft tissue that connects the bones of the thumb and provides stability to the thumb joint. In this minimally invasive technique, the surgeon makes a small cut over the back of the thumb joint and examines the area around the injury for damage.
Does gamekeeper's thumb require surgery?
Does gamekeeper's thumb require surgery? Surgery is typically only considered for this condition if the ligament at the base of the thumb is fully severed. If the tear is partial, then a cast or a thumb spica splint can be used to immobilize the joint and keep the ligament in place while it heals itself together again.
How long does pain last after thumb surgery?
The first 6 weeks are tough with pain, weakness, and stiffness in the thumb. Most patients have minimal pain by 3 months after surgery. Your symptoms will continue to improve with improvements in ability to do more activities every 3 months.
How long does UCL surgery take?
Tommy John Surgery is typically an outpatient procedure. This means you can usually return home the same day. It is performed under general anesthesia and may last anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes.
How long is recovery from UCL surgery?
Patients can expect the entirety of Phase I recovery to take about 6 weeks. Phase II. Approximately 6 weeks following the surgery, elbow and shoulder strengthening exercises are advanced.
How long is UCL repair recovery?
Most patients can return to school, light duty or sedentary work around 1-2 weeks after surgery. More strenuous work may require more time to return, with the specific time to return depending on the duties of your job. Most throwing athletes begin some light throwing around 3 months after surgery.
How much is thumb ligament surgery?
On MDsave, the cost of a Gamekeeper's Thumb Treatment (UCL Repair) ranges from $4,944 to $6,617. Those on high deductible health plans or without insurance can save when they buy their procedure upfront through MDsave.
Do I need UCL thumb surgery?
Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries of the thumb are among the most common injuries of the hand. Whether the injury is acute or chronic, a complete rupture of the ligament is usually managed with operative repair to restore thumb stability with pinch and grip, as well as to avoid arthritic changes.
Can a UCL thumb tear heal without surgery?
UCL injuries can be treated surgically or non‐surgically. Non‐surgical or conservative options include plaster or splint immobilization (Sollerman 1991).
What is a gamekeeper's thumb?
The term Gamekeeper’s Thumb is used when referring to an ulnar collateral injury caused by repetitive stress on the thumb during such activities as using a wrench, twisting electrical cords or wringing out heavy cloths. The term Skier’s Thumb is commonly used when there is an acute, forceful abduction of the thumb as when a skier falls without ...
How long do you need to wear a splint for a broken thumb?
Splints that stabilize and immobilize the thumb and/or wrist are required to facilitate healing and are generally worn for 4 to 6 weeks to allow adequate healing to take place.
How to repair a UCL tear?
See the list below: 1 Delayed repair of the UCL#N#Complete ruptures of the UCL require surgical intervention for repair within the first 3 weeks of the injury (preferably in the first week while the anatomic position is maintained).#N#Complete tears that are repaired after 3 weeks have an increased incidence of weakness and pain on pinch grasp. An associated increase in MCP joint arthritis is noted in the long term. 2 Closed treatment of a completely torn UCL#N#A 50% failure rate is reported with complete tears that are treated with bracing and early motion. If a patient is unable to tolerate or refuses surgery, then bracing is the treatment of choice. A thumb spica splint or functional brace can be attempted, but it must be understood that full stability of the thumb may not occur.#N#Soft-tissue interposition, which is caused by the adductor aponeurosis holding the torn UCL in a displaced position, prevents healing. Surgical correction is necessary to reconstruct the UCL and allow healing.#N#ROM is limited in the thumb at the MCP joint if the joint is immobilized longer than 4 weeks.
What to do if no degenerative changes are present at the MCP joint?
If no degenerative changes are present at the MCP joint, consider a ligament reconstruction. A free tendon, usually the palmaris longus, can be woven through the metacarpal neck and the base of the proximal phalanx. If arthritis is present or if the patient is a manual laborer, consider an arthrodesis of the MCP joint.
What muscles are attenuated in the dorsal capsule?
The dorsal capsule, as well as the extensor pollicis brevis and extensor pollicis longus muscles , become attenuated, adding to the dorsal instability of the MCP joint. The thumb then tends to displace volarly and to rotate into supination. Surgical Intervention. Chronic instability is difficult to treat.
How long does it take to treat a proximal avulsion fracture?
For small, nondisplaced avulsion fractures of the proximal phalanx that are found to be stable on stress testing, nonoperative treatment by a spica-type cast for 4 weeks can be completed with good results.
How long does it take for a UCL tear to heal?
Complete ruptures of the UCL require surgical intervention for repair within the first 3 weeks of the injury (preferably in the first week while the anatomic position is maintained). Complete tears that are repaired after 3 weeks have an increased incidence of weakness and pain on pinch grasp.
Can MCP joint arthritis be treated with bracing?
An associated increase in MCP joint arthritis is noted in the long term. A 50% failure rate is reported with complete tears that are treated with bracing and early motion. If a patient is unable to tolerate or refuses surgery, then bracing is the treatment of choice.
Can you brace your thumb?
If a patient is unable to tolerate or refuses surgery, then bracing is the treatment of choice. A thumb spica splint or functional brace can be attempted, but it must be understood that full stability of the thumb may not occur.
What is a Gamekeeper's thumb?
Gamekeeper’s Thumb, also called Skier’s Thumb, is an injury to the thumb on the little finger side, at the second joint from the thumbnail (MP joint). The ligament can be either torn itself, or the ligament can be torn from the bone, usually pulling a small fragment of bone off with it, as illustrated below.
Why is the thumb important?
Because the stability of the thumb is important for holding things between the thumb and the index finger, treatment is directed toward optimizing the healing of the ligament to restore its full function. Gamekeeper’s thumb is a common injury. The incidence is increased in skiers, but it does not depend on the type of ski pole used.
What is a partial tear of the thumb called?
These are called partial tears, that is, grade I or grade II tears, of the UCL. These tears usually involve an isolated rupture of the proper collateral ligament.
When is surgery needed for a Stener lesion?
Surgery is needed when there is too much looseness of the ligament (it is probably ruptured and the Stener lesion will prevent it from healing) or if there is a fracture and the bone fragment is displaced.
What is the muscle on the index finger called?
The muscle on the index finger side of the thumb (adductor) has an expansion called the aponeurosis, which usually gets stuck between the ruptured ligament and its site of insertion at the base of the proximal phalanx, preventing the ligament ends from touching. This is called a Stener lesion and prevents the ligament from healing back together. ...
Is stiffness of the MCP and IP joints a functional problem?
Stiffness of the MCP and IP joints is a common complication. This stiffness is usually not a functional problem, and it tends to improve with time. Neuropraxia of the radial sensory nerve may occur, even if care is taken to isolate and protect the nerve. The neuropraxia usually resolves spontaneously.
Can you see a fractured thumb?
This is a view of the thumb from the side. You cannot see the fracture fragment, since it is in the middle of the bone on this view. What you can see is that the joint is not parallel: the bones are closer to the right than to the left. (Again, the sesamoids have been removed.)
