What's the prognosis for a thumb dislocation? My husband suffered a wrist fracture and thumb dislocation in a recent car accident. He's worried he won't be able to get back to normal.
Early treatment of acute injuries like this usually have a good prognosis and a good outcome. Both injuries require cast immobilization and will heal at about the same rate. Sometimes bone fractures heal faster than ligamentous injuries.
Return of wrist and thumb motions and function may require some rehab, though. When ligaments are torn or the joint capsule is disrupted, then more extensive reconstructive surgery may be needed.
Healing and recovery from this type of treatment takes more time. Instead of the six to eight weeks needed for bone fracture healing, ligament healing can take months to recover.
If the joint is unstable, then the use of wires or pins may be needed to hold everything in place during the healing process. This hardware may be removed once healing has taken place. Unless there are some unusual complications, most patients have full motion and function at follow-up two years later.
B. Bosmans, MD, et al. Traumatic Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Dislocations. In Journal of Hand Surgery. March 2008. Vol. 33A. No. 3. Pp. 438-441.
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