My son injured his thumb in a wrestling tournament. He finished the season, but still has constant pain. Is it too late to treat this problem?

Wrestling is a common cause of injury to the thumb. Many times, the radial collateral ligament (RCL) at the base of the thumb is torn. When this happens, early treatment is best, but late treatment is successful.

If the ligament isn’t completely torn, cast immobilization for six weeks is advised. With a complete rupture, surgery to repair the tendon is often needed.

A study over 20 years of thumb injuries showed that even late treatment gives good results. The ligament and the sheath covering it are carefully pulled back to the bone and reattached. The joint is pinned in place during the healing process. Most patients regain motion and strength without pain.