How to Diagnose a Thumb Fracture

Thumb fractures range in severity, from a single, easily treatable fracture to a complex injury that breaks multiple segments along the joint and requires surgery. Since a thumb injury has a lasting impact on many aspects of your life from eating to your ability to work, it’s important to take it seriously. ^{[1] X Research Sources Brian Carlson MD and Stephen Moran MD. American Society for Surgery of the Hand, May June 2009 Vpume 34 Issue 5 945-952}^{[2 ] X Resources Skinner, H, Current Diagnosis and Treatment of Orthopedics 5th Edition, Chapter 9, Hand Surgery, 2008 Understanding} Symptoms of Thumb fracture and treatment options are essential to the recovery of this type of injury.

Table of Contents

Recognizing Broken Thumbs

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So hurt. After your thumb is broken you often feel a lot of pain, this is normal because the bone is surrounded by nerves. Broken bones cause irritation or pressure on these nerves, which in turn causes pain. So if you don’t feel much pain after the injury, chances are your thumb hasn’t broken. ^{[3] X Research Source Ashkenaze DM, Ruby LK. Metacarpal fractures and dislocations. Orthop Clin North Am 1992; 23:19.}

Pain is also felt if something touches the finger or when you try to bend it.
In general, the closer the pain is to the joint where the thumb meets the rest of the hand (closer to the webbing between the thumb and index finger), the more worrisome the situation and the risk of complications.

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Look for signs of deformity at the site of injury. You should look closely to see if the finger is normal. Is it unusually curved or twisted? Also you need to look for any bone fragments that bud out of the skin. If any of these signs are present, it is almost certain that the thumb is broken. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

When broken fingers often bruise, which is a sign of capillaries in the cell membrane. ^{[5] X Trusted Source Seattle Children’s Hospital Go to Source}

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Try to move your finger. If it is true that the thumb is broken, then moving it will cause severe pain. The ligaments that connect the bones are also unable to function properly, making it difficult to move the thumb. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

In particular, you should check to see if you can move your thumb back. If you can do it without pain, you’re likely just sprained, not broken.

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Notice the numbness, tingling, or cold sensation in the finger. Not only causing pain, when the nerve is compressed, it also makes the thumb numb or cold. This is because broken bones or swelling can constrict blood vessels and prevent blood from reaching the thumb and surrounding tissues. ^{[7] X Stark Research Resources , CD, & Bowers, ES (2010). Living with sports injuries. New York: Facts On File.}

The thumb can turn blue if it doesn’t receive enough health or doesn’t return it.

Have a Doctor Assess the Wound

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Go to the doctor or go to the emergency room. If you think your thumb is broken, you should go to the emergency room to have it treated by a professional. If you wait too long, the swelling in the wound makes it difficult to realign the bone, and if the fracture cannot be fixed, your finger could be bent forever. ^{[9] X Sources of Research Plancher, KD (2006). MasterCases Hand and Wrist Surgery: Hand and Wrist Surgery. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers.}

In addition, fractures of the thumb in children have long-term effects on the development of that finger because the growth synaptic cartilage has been damaged.
Even if you only suspect a sprain (a ligament tear) you should see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. And even some serious sprains require a surgeon’s hand. In general, you should let a medical professional determine the outcome of your diagnosis and treatment. ^{[10] X Research Source C, Tsiouri et al, Hand, Injury to the Ulnar Cplateral 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 Cplateral Ligament Injuries, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, May June 2009 Vpume 34 Issue 5 945-952}

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Physical examination. In addition to asking questions related to the symptoms described in Part One, the doctor will do a physical exam of the thumb. They tested the finger’s strength and mobility by comparing it to an uninjured thumb. Another test requires touching the tip of the thumb to the index finger, then applying pressure to the thumb to check its weakness. ^{[12] X Research Source C, Tsiouri et al, Hand, Injury to the Ulnar Cplateral Ligament of the Thumb, 2008 March, 4(1) 12-18}

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X-ray of the thumb. Your doctor may order X-rays of your thumb from different angles. This not only reinforces the diagnosis, but also shows the specific number of fractures, which is essential information to determine treatment options. The radiographic contributions are as follows: ^{[13] X Source Foster RJ, Hastings H. Treatment of Bennett, Rpando, and vertical intra-articular trapezial fractures. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1987; 121.}

Side view: A cup with the hand resting on one side so that the thumb is on top.
Upside down: A cup with the hand resting on one side and slightly tilted, so that the thumb is on top.
Front-to-back: This is a photo shoot with the hand lying flat and shooting from the top.

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Ask your doctor about having a CT (computerized tomography) scan. A CT scan is sometimes called a horizontal computed tomography (CAT) scan. A CT scan uses x-rays and a computer to build images of the inside of the body (in this case, the thumb). That image helps the doctor better understand the fracture and figure out how to best treat it. ^{[14] X Research Sources Lanz, U., Schmitt, R., & Buchberger, W. (2008). Diagnostic imaging of the hand. Stuttgart: Thieme.}

If you are pregnant, tell your doctor because a CT scan can harm your unborn baby.

Treatment of a Broken Thumb

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Visit with an orthopedic surgeon. Based on X-rays and test results, the orthopedic surgeon determines the most appropriate treatment. They also looked at the type of fracture (intra- or extra-articular) and the complexity of the fracture (Bennett or Rpando fracture). ^{[21] 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}

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Ask about non-surgical treatment options. In simple fractures (such as extra-articular fractures) the doctor can reposition the broken bone manually without surgery. ^{[22] 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 They inject local anesthetic prior to the fracture alignment.} .

With this method (also known as closed manipulation), the doctor pulls the bone along the fracture to realign, and uses fluoroscopy (instant continuous X-ray technique) to observe the bone during the procedure. align. ^{[23] 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 with some Rpando fractures, especially when the bone breaks into too many interlocking pieces, the surgeon can also treat the fracture with this method, which means they have to do their best to arrange the fracture. reshaping the bone fragments (called open manipulation). ^{[24] X Research Source C, Wheeless, Wheeless Textbook of Orthopedics Rpandos fracture, 10, 2012}

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Consider surgical treatment. For intra-articular fractures (such as Bennett and Rpando fractures) an orthopedic surgeon will often recommend surgery. The specific surgical approach depends on the complexity of the fracture. Typical options are: ^{[25] X Research Source C, Wheeless, Wheeless Textbook of Orthopaedics Rpandos fracture, 10, 2012}^{[26] X Research Source Brian Carlson MD , Steven Moran MD, Thumb Trauma : Bennetts, Fracure , Rloando’s fractrues, and Ulnar Cplateral Ligament INjuries, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, May June 2009 Vpume 34 Issue 5 945-952}

Using fluoroscopy to insert metal wires through the skin and realign the broken pieces is called external fixation. This method is mainly used for Bennett fractures when the fragments are still close together.
The surgeon cuts open the hand to insert small screws and pins into the bone, to hold them in place. This method is called internal fixation.
Potential complications with surgery include injury to nerves or ligaments, stiffness, and an increased risk of arthritis. ^{[27] X Research Source}

Advice

Regardless of broken bones or sprains, you should go to the hospital for medical care.

Warning

This article provides medical information about a broken thumb and should not be taken as advice. Always see your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and choose the right treatment for your injury.
If you are pregnant, tell your doctor before having an X-ray. The fetus is very sensitive to X-rays, so it’s best to avoid using this method to determine if a finger is broken.

Steps

Recognizing Broken Thumbs

Have a Doctor Assess the Wound

Treatment of a Broken Thumb

Advice

Warning

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