You will also experience severe pain if something touches your thumb or when you try to bend it. Generally, the closer the pain is to the joint where your thumb meets the rest of your hand (closest to the webbing between your thumb and forefinger), the more cause for concern and potential complication for the injury.
Your thumb will also most likely have bruises on it, which is a sign that the capillaries in the tissue of the thumb have broken open.
In particular, check to see if you can move your thumb backwards. If you can move it backwards without pain, you probably have a sprain rather than a broken bone.
Your thumb might also turn blue if it is receiving very little or no blood.
The swelling in your thumb might also affect the closest fingers to your thumb.
In addition, broken thumbs in children can permanently affect their growth by damaging their growth plates. Even if you suspect the injury might be a sprain (torn ligament) rather than a bone fracture, you should still see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. [9] X Expert Source Jonathan Frank, MDSports Orthopedic Surgeon & Joint Preservation Specialist Expert Interview. 31 July 2020. Additionally, some serious sprains can still require a hand surgeon to repair. You should ultimately leave the final diagnosis and treatment decisions to a medical professional. [10] X Research source C, Tsiouri et al, Hand, Injury to the Ulnar Collateral Ligament of the Thumb, 2008 March, 4(1) 12-18 [11] X Research source Brian Carslon MD , Steven Moran MD, Thumb Trauma : Bennetts, Fracure, Rloando’s fractrues, and Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, May June 2009 Volume 34 Issue 5 945-952
Lateral: The lateral view is an x-ray with the hand resting on its side, so that the thumb is up. Oblique: The oblique view is an x-ray with the hand tilted, resting on its side, so that the thumb is up. AP: The AP view is an x-ray of your hand in a flattened position, from above.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant because CT scans might cause harm to the fetus.
Extra-articular fractures are those that take place away from a joint along the length of one of the two bones in the thumb. While painful and requiring six weeks to heal, these fractures do not typically require surgical intervention. [17] X Research source Ashkenaze DM, Ruby LK. Metacarpal fractures and dislocations. Orthop Clin North Am 1992; 23:19. Intra-articular fractures take place along the joint, often requiring surgical intervention to help the patient retain as much movement in the joint after recovery as possible. [18] X Research source Ashkenaze DM, Ruby LK. Metacarpal fractures and dislocations. Orthop Clin North Am 1992; 23:19. Of the intra-articular thumb fractures, the two most common are a Bennetts fracture and a Rolando’s fracture. In both, the thumb fractures (and likely dislocates) along the carpometacarpal joint (the thumb joint closest to the hand). [19] X Research source Wheeless, Wheeless Textbook of Orthopaedics, Bennetts Fracture Dislocation, 10, 2012 The major difference between the two is that a Rolando’s fracture involves three or more bone fragments that require realignment, and while a Bennetts fracture may occasionally forego surgery, a Rolando’s fracture almost always necessitates surgical treatment. [20] X Research source Wheeless, Wheeless Textbook of Orthopaedics Rolandos fracture, 10, 2012 [21] X Research source Brian Carlson MD , Steven Moran MD, Thumb Trauma : Bennetts, Fracure, Rloando’s fractrues, and Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, May June 2009 Volume 34 Issue 5 945-952
This method (also referred to as a closed reduction) typically consists of the doctor pulling and tugging along the break to realign it while using a fluoroscopy (continuous, realtime x-raying) to see when the fragments are realigned. [24] X Research source J, Leggit, Acute Finger Injuries Part II, Fractures, Dislocations and Thumb Injuries, American Family Physician, March 1 2006 73 (5) 827-834 Note that some Rolando’s fractures, especially those where the bones are shattered into too many pieces to screw or pin together, may also be treated in this method with the surgeon molding the fragments to the best of his ability (known as an open reduction). [25] X Research source C, Wheeless, Wheeless Textbook of Orthopaedics Rolandos fracture, 10, 2012
Using fluoroscopy to place wires through the skin to realign the fragments, known as external fixation. This option typically pertains to Bennett’s fractures where the fragments have remained very close together. Having a surgeon open the hand to place small screws or pins into the bones in order to keep them properly aligned. This is known as internal fixation. Potential complications from surgical options include nerve or ligament injuries, stiffness, and increased risk of arthritis. [28] X Research source
Expect to wear the cast anywhere from two to six weeks, with closer to six being the norm. [30] X Research source Your doctor may also schedule follow-up appointments during this time.
