Skier's Thumb

I recently injured my thumb playing basketball when another player bent it back severely while attempting to block my shot. It's been a week now and it still hurts anytime I catch it on something like a door or my pockets. Should I see a doctor?

Dr. John J. Fernandez:

It sounds like you may have suffered a collateral ligament injury. The collateral ligament is a band of tough, fibrous tissue that connects the bones at the base of the thumb, at the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint. There is an ulnar collateral ligament and a radial collateral ligament on each side of your thumb. This ligament helps stabilize the thumb and prevents it from pointing too far away from the hand.

When the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb is injured, the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint becomes painful and swollen. You may also notice weakness with pinching and grasping activities. If the thumb is bent backwards the ulnar collateral ligament can tear, which can cause the MCP joint to become unstable.

This injury is often referred to as "Skier's Thumb,' as the injury often occurs when a skier falls with his or her hand caught in a ski pole, causing the thumb to be forcibly pulled away from the hand. If the ulnar collateral ligament is stretched too far, it will tear. Even though this injury is more common in skiing and soccer, it does occur in basketball as well. In fact, Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich recently suffered a similar injury which required surgical correction.

Treatment Options:

If the ulnar collateral ligament is only partially torn and MCP joint is not unstable, the patient will typically be placed in a cast or special wrist splint for 4 to 6 weeks. However, if the ligament actually separates from the bone and folds backwards, the ligament can't heal correctly by itself and surgery is required to repair the damage.

In your particular case, an examination is definitely warranted. See a hand orthopaedic specialist as soon as possible.

For more information about Dr. Fernandez and the Sports Medicine physicians of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, call 877 MD BONES or contact us through this Web site.

This information is not intended as a substitute for the professional advice of your physician, nor to be a complete description of every aspect of a condition, nor a complete list of possible side effects of any medication. Decisions concerning your treatment should be based on your own health care provider's evaluation of your personal health history and current condition. Consult your physician before following any of the suggestions on this Web site. All articles on this Web site represent the personal opinions of the individual authors and should not be construed as official policy of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.