Skier’s thumb — which is also referred to as Gamekeeper’s thumb — is an injury sustained to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), which is located in the joint where the thumb meets the hand.
The job of the UCL is to provide you with the ability to pinch objects, like a skiing pole, between your thumb and hand. Sustaining an injury to your UCL is not only painful but extremely frustrating as it can result in loss of pinching strength and function.
Contrary to the name, skier’s thumb is not just an injury related to skiing. It obtained this name because in skiing accidents, people frequently fail to drop their poles or try and use them as leverage. By holding on, the thumb is jerked away from the index finger, which can stretch or even tear the UCL. This type of injury can also come about after repeated incidents of minor trauma. When this occurs, it is referred to as gamekeeper’s thumb. Due to the repeated trauma, this can be even more difficult to treat because of the gradual thinning of the UCL.
The symptoms of this condition often include:
- Pain at base of thumb
- Swelling at base of thumb
- Difficulty grabbing objects
- Difficulty throwing objects
- Unstable or wobbly thumb at its base
- Bruising at thumb base
- Tingling or numbness
Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment may be either non-surgical or surgical. Non-surgical treatment typically includes ice, 4-6 weeks of immobilization and a steady stream of NSAIDs to reduce swelling. Surgical treatment is generally an outpatient procedure. The surgery is done through small incisions where the surgeon enters, cleans up the tissue and sutures the ligament to the bone at the original insertion point. If a bone fracture is also present, this will be treated as well. Six weeks in a cast is the standard recovery time.
Skier’s thumb can turn into a chronic problem if not treated in a timely manner. If you believe you may have this injury or are experiencing any pain in your thumb, contact us today to schedule a consultation!
