Broken Thumb
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Broken Thumb

The thumb has two finger bones connected to a hand bone. The first finger bone (distal phalange) extends from the tip of the thumb to the knuckle. The second finger bone (proximal phalange) extends from the knuckle to the webbing between the thumb and the first finger. There, it connects with the hand bone (first metacarpal), which extends from the webbing down to the wrist.

Symptoms of a Broken Thumb

• 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

Treatment of a Broken Thumb

See a doctor as soon as possible. Without immediate treatment, the joint will be unstable and you will be unable to grip or pinch properly. Continued swelling may make it more difficult to align the bones properly. Delayed treatment will make the fracture much more difficult to treat and can lead to a poor outcome. Use a padded splint to prevent the bone from moving further out of alignment is encouraged prior to definitive treatment.

The physician will examine the injury, take your medical history and have X-rays taken of the injury. You may need surgery, depending on the location of the fracture and the amount of movement between the broken pieces of bone. If there is little movement (displacement) or if the break is located in the middle (shaft) of the bone, an orthopaedist may be able to use a specially designed cast (spica cast) to hold the bone fragments in place. You will have to wear the cast for at least four to six weeks, and your doctor may request regular X-rays to ensure that the bone hasn’t slipped out of alignment.

Often, Bennett and other more severe fractures of the thumb require surgical treatment. The hand surgeon may use one of several operative fixation techniques to restore boney anatomy and hold the bones in place while they heal. These techniques include the use of wire, pins, plates and screws as internal fixation. Another technique uses pins in bone that exit the skin and are attached to an external fixation device You will likely be required to wear a cast or splint for two to six weeks after surgery. When the cast is removed, your physician may recommend hand therapy to restore movement. It can take three months or more to regain full use of the hand, depending on the severity of the injury.

October 2003

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Society for Surgery of the Hand