A broken thumb, or thumb fracture, occurs when one of the bones in your thumb cracks or breaks. This injury can range from a small crack to a complete break, often resulting from a direct impact or fall.
Immediate Steps After Injury
Applying ice to the injured area can reduce swelling and pain. Elevating the hand above the heart also helps minimize fluid accumulation.
Immobilizing the thumb is important; a makeshift splint using a rigid object taped securely to the thumb can provide temporary support. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage discomfort. Do not attempt to straighten or move the bone, as this could worsen the injury.
How to Identify a Broken Thumb
Severe, throbbing pain at the injury site is a primary indicator, often worsening with any attempt to move the thumb. Swelling around the thumb joint or along the bone is commonly visible shortly after the incident.
Bruising may develop hours or days after the injury, indicating internal bleeding. A noticeable deformity, such as an unnatural bend, indicates a fracture. Difficulty gripping objects or moving the thumb, along with tenderness when touching the bone, are strong indicators of a break rather than a sprain.
Professional Assessment and Confirmation
A healthcare professional will conduct a physical examination, inspecting for swelling, bruising, and deformity, and assessing range of motion and tenderness.
To confirm a fracture and determine its exact location and severity, diagnostic imaging is usually performed. X-rays are the most common tool, providing images of bone structures. For complex cases, including those involving the joint surface or multiple fragments, a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might be ordered to provide detailed views of bones and soft tissues. These techniques help formulate the most appropriate treatment plan.
Available Treatment Options
Treatment for a broken thumb depends on the fracture’s type, location, and severity. Non-surgical approaches are often effective for stable fractures where bone fragments are not significantly displaced. Immobilization is achieved primarily through casting, with a cast extending from below the elbow to the thumb, holding it stable.
Alternatively, a splint may be used to provide support and restrict movement. For minor, stable fractures without significant displacement, buddy taping the injured thumb to an adjacent finger might offer sufficient support. The goal of these methods is to hold the bone fragments still, allowing them to heal naturally over several weeks.
Surgical intervention becomes necessary for more complex thumb fractures. This includes significantly displaced bone fragments that are not aligned for proper healing, or fractures extending into the thumb joint, which could lead to long-term arthritis. Open fractures, where the bone has broken through the skin, also require immediate surgical attention to prevent infection.
Common surgical procedures involve open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), where the surgeon realigns the bone fragments and secures them with internal hardware. This hardware, such as pins, screws, or plates, holds the bones in place while they heal. External fixation might also be used, involving pins placed through the skin into the bone and connected to an external frame, especially for unstable or contaminated fractures.
The Healing and Recovery Process
Healing and recovery for a broken thumb typically spans several weeks to months, varying based on fracture severity and treatment. For non-surgical cases, a cast or splint is usually worn for approximately four to six weeks as new bone tissue forms. Follow-up X-rays monitor healing.
After cast removal, stiffness and weakness in the thumb and hand are common. Pain management often involves over-the-counter pain relievers and applying heat or cold packs. Rehabilitation then focuses on regaining strength and mobility.
Physical or occupational therapy is important, with therapists guiding exercises to improve range of motion, grip strength, and fine motor skills. These exercises might include gentle stretching, strengthening with resistance bands, and dexterity tasks. Adherence to the prescribed therapy regimen is important to restore function and prevent long-term stiffness.
Complications like persistent pain, chronic stiffness, or reduced grip strength can occur if the recovery protocol is not followed or if the fracture heals incorrectly. A second surgery might be required to address non-union (failure of bones to heal) or malunion (healing in an improper position). Full recovery, including return to normal activities, can take up to three to six months, requiring patience and consistent effort during rehabilitation.