Hand & Wrist Care

The orthopedic surgeons at Great Lakes Orthopedics & Sports
Medicine, P. C. can evaluate your hand & wrist condition or injury and
provide a customized treatment plan to get you back to enjoying life!!

Thumb Fracture

Hand & Wrist Specialists In The Greater St. John, Crown Point and Lowell, Areas

The orthopedic surgeons at Great Lakes Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, P. C. treat hand & wrist conditions and injuries at their 3 convenient offices in St. John, Crown Point and Lowell, Indiana.  Our orthopedic physicians are specially-trained in treating hand & wrist conditions and injuries.  As leaders in orthopedic care, we provide minimally invasive and innovative treatment options, as well as utilizing state-of-the art technologies, to create unique and individualized care plan designed to get you back on your road to recovery and regaining an active lifestyle!!

FAQs on Thumb Fracture

Thumb Fracture

A thumb fracture is a serious problem. It affects the ability to grasp items. A broken thumb can increase the risk of arthritis later in life.

Cause & Symptoms

Cause

Thumb fractures are usually caused by direct stress, such as from a fall. A thumb fracture may happen when a ball catches and pulls the thumb back.

Some fractures may be caused indirectly, from twisting or muscle contractions, as occur in wrestling, hockey, football, and skiing. People with a history of bone disease or calcium deficiency are especially at risk.

The risk of a thumb fracture can be lessened by using protective taping, padding, or other equipment. Developing strength in the hands through exercise and proper nutrition can also provide some protection.

Symptoms

  • Severe pain at the fracture site
  • Swelling
  • Limited or no ability to move the thumb
  • Extreme tenderness
  • A misshapen or deformed look to the thumb
  • Numbness or coldness in the thumb

Diagnosis

A doctor should be consulted as soon as possible if a thumb injury and suspected fracture has occurred.

A delay in treatment may make it more difficult to align the bones properly, due to continued swelling, and may lead to a poor outcome. A padded splint can be used to prevent the bone from moving farther out of alignment.

This is encouraged before treatment is finalized.

The physician will examine the injury, take a medical history, and order x-rays of the injury.

Treatment Options

Nonsurgical Treatment

A fracture of the thumb can be held in proper alignment using external fixation.

If the bone fragments of the fracture have not moved (displaced) very much, or if the break is located in the middle (shaft) of the bone, your surgeon may be able to use a specially designed cast (spica cast) to hold the bone fragments in place.

The cast may need to be worn for at least 4 to 6 weeks. During that time, regular X-rays may be needed to ensure that the bone has not slipped out of alignment.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery may be needed, depending on the location of the fracture and the amount of movement between the broken fragments of bone. Your surgeon may use one of several operative fixation techniques to realign the bone fragments. These fragments must be held in place while the bone heals.

These techniques include devices that hold the bone fragments in place either inside the body (internal fixation) or outside the body (external fixation).

Internal fixation techniques include the use of wire, pins, plates, and screws.

External fixation techniques include the use of pins in bone that are held in place through their attachment to an external fixation device.

A cast or splint will be worn for 2 to 6 weeks after surgery. When the cast is removed, hand therapy may be recommended in order to restore movement.

It can take 3 months or more to regain full use of the hand, depending on the severity of the injury.