A thumb fracture is an injury to the bones within this digit. These fractures are common and vary in severity, from minor cracks to complex breaks involving joints. Such injuries can impact the thumb’s ability to grasp and hold objects, potentially leading to long-term functional limitations if not properly addressed.
How Thumb Fractures Occur
Thumb fractures often result from direct trauma, such as a fall onto an outstretched hand or a direct blow. Sports activities also contribute, especially contact sports like wrestling, hockey, football, and skiing, where twisting or strong muscle contractions can cause a fracture. Accidents involving tools like power saws or drills, or car and bicycle accidents, can also lead to these fractures. Individuals with bone diseases or calcium deficiencies may have a higher susceptibility.
Recognizing a Fractured Thumb
A fractured thumb presents with several signs. Immediate and severe pain at the injury site is a common indicator, often worsening with movement or pressure. Swelling around the thumb joint is present. Bruising or discoloration of the skin may develop shortly after the injury.
Other symptoms include extreme tenderness when touched, limited or no ability to move the thumb, or a misshapen appearance. Some individuals may experience numbness or a cold sensation. A grinding sensation during movement, or a cracking sound at the time of injury, can also suggest a fracture.
Seeking Medical Attention and Diagnosis
If a thumb injury is suspected, prompt medical attention is important. Delays in treatment can make proper bone alignment more challenging and potentially lead to a less favorable outcome. A healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination, assessing for tenderness, swelling, range of motion, and stability. They will also check for potential nerve or tendon damage and examine other digits for associated injuries.
X-rays are the primary diagnostic tool to confirm a thumb fracture and determine its type and severity. For complex fractures or those involving joints, additional imaging like CT scans or MRIs may be used to provide more detailed information about bone fragments and surrounding soft tissues. A padded splint may be applied to prevent further bone movement before definitive treatment.
Treatment and Recovery
Treatment for a fractured thumb depends on the fracture’s location and degree of bone displacement. For fractures where bone fragments have not moved significantly or breaks in the middle of the bone, non-surgical treatment often involves immobilizing the thumb. This includes wearing a specialized cast, such as a thumb spica cast, for 4 to 6 weeks to hold the bone fragments in place as they heal. Regular X-rays are taken during this period to ensure proper bone alignment.
Surgical intervention may be necessary for more complex fractures, such as those that are displaced, involve a joint, or are shattered into multiple pieces. During surgery, the bone fragments are realigned and stabilized using internal fixation devices like wires, pins, plates, or screws. In some cases, external fixation, which involves pins attached to an external device, may be used.
After immobilization, whether surgical or non-surgical, healing time for a thumb fracture ranges from 4 to 6 weeks, though more complex fractures may take longer. Following the initial healing period, rehabilitation, often involving physical or occupational therapy, is important to regain strength, flexibility, and full function. Exercises may include gentle movements to restore motion in the thumb joints, such as bending and straightening the tip, making C-shapes with the hand, and squeezing soft objects. Full recovery and return to normal activities, especially those involving heavy lifting or contact sports, can take 3 months or more.