Last ski season I fell into my ski poles going downhill and hurt both my thumbs. I didn't think much of it at the time and just let them heal on their own. Now I have constant clicking in both thumbs and they are very stiff. Should I see a doctor about this?
It sounds like you are describing a condition referred to as skier's thumb. The thumb gets bent out and back so far that the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb is injured. The ligament can be torn partially or completely. A complete tear is called a rupture.
Sometimes the ligament itself isn't torn but pulls away from the bone with a small piece of bone still attached. This is called an avulsion fracture. When the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb is injured, the middle joint of the thumb is affected. This is called the metacarpophalangeal or MCP joint.
You may have noticed the area near the web of the thumb was painful and swollen. The thumb may be weak when you try to pinch or grasp objects. Soon after the accident there might have been a bruise-like discoloration on the skin around the joint.
The loose end of the torn ligament can form a bump. You may feel this along the inside edge of the thumb near the palm of the hand. The MCP joint needs to be stable for the thumb to be strong enough to grasp objects. A torn ligament makes it difficult to hold or squeeze things between your thumb and index finger.
Treatment may be needed to help the ligament heal so that the thumb can be restored to full function. Getting treatment soon after an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb may improve your ability to regain strength and range of motion.
Alejandro Badia, MD. Arthroscopic Reduction and Internal Fixation of Bony Gamekeeper's Thumb. In Orthopedics. August 2006. Vol. 29. No. 8. Pp. 675-678.
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Comments
clicking thumbs
i have been having a problem with my thumbs where they get stuck in an upright position, i can still bend them back, but not forward. when i do bend them forward they start to click painfully everytime i bend them forwards. i dont know why this is happening and i have never been skiing or done anything to injure them, its been going on for 2 months now.