Non-operative treatment: if the break is in the middle of the bone, and not displaced, you may be able to wear a splint for a few weeks while it heals. Having discussed the injury, your specialist will usually back up the diagnosis with an X-ray. You should ask for medical advice as soon as possible as early treatment can help the thumb to recover more quickly, especially if bones are misaligned (out of place). Any one of these symptoms alone may indicate a fracture. What are the symptoms?Įxtreme pain, swelling, tenderness, deformity, and not being able to move the thumb, are all symptoms of a thumb fracture.
Using protective gloves, padding or taping can help protect the thumb from injuries. Other breaks are caused by twists, common in sports such as wrestling, football, skiing and hockey. How is a thumb fracture caused?Ī broken thumb is usually caused by landing on it when falling, or when it’s pulled back catching a ball or other object. Breaking either of these bones can make it difficult to hold an object, and can also lead to osteoarthritis later in life.īreaks near the joints (known as Bennett and Rolando fractures) can be the hardest to treat and are considered the most serious.
The thumb is connected to a bone in the hand (first metacarpal) and is made up of two bones: the distal phalanx, which is the top part between the knuckle and the tip of your thumb and the proximal phalanx, which is between the knuckle and the base of your thumb.