Page 112 - ASOP Orthopedic Casting Manual

2.5.1 Fracture Type(s) for Thumb

Spica Cast

Ulnar Collateral Ligament LUCLM Injuries of the Thumb
✓ Clinic al Relevant Anatomy: The UCL stabilizes the thumb's metac ar pophalange al joint, preventing excessive

valgus stress. Injur y to this ligament is commonly refer red to as "skier ʼs thumb."
✓ Epidemiology / Etiology / Mechanism of Injur y: UCL injur ies are often c aused by forceful thumb abduction,
such as dur ing a fall while holding a ski pole. Chronic c ases are ter med "gamekeeper's thumb" due to
repetitive stress.
✓ Clinic al Character istics / Presentation: Patients present with p ain, swelling, and ecchymosis at the thumb's
b ase. Valgus stress testing reve als joint laxit y.
✓ Fracture Diagnosis Process: Diagnosis is clinic al, with stress radiographs used to assess associated avulsion
fractures.
✓ Differential Diagnosis / Associated Injur ies: Stener lesion (displaced ligament entrapment); First metac ar p al

fracture
✓ Tre atment / Management Considerations: Par tial te ars are tre ated conser vatively with a thumb spic a c ast for
4]6 weeks. Complete te ars or Stener lesions require surgic al rep air.