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Thumb Fractures

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Sports Injuries of the Hand and Wrist

Part of the book series: In Clinical Practice ((ICP))

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Abstract

The thumb contributes up to 40% of total hand function. If not managed appropriately, thumb injuries can have a devastating effect upon hand function. The majority of these injuries are fractures of the metacarpal base, ligamentous injuries about the metacarpophalangeal joint, and phalangeal fractures. In this chapter, we discuss the presentation, assessment, treatment, and outcome of thumb fractures.

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Disclosure

No funds were received in support of this work. No benefits in any form have been or will be received from any commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Mohamed Noureldin & Sanjeev Kakar MD, FAOA

Authors
  1. Mohamed Noureldin
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  2. Sanjeev Kakar MD, FAOA
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sanjeev Kakar MD, FAOA .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Upper Limb Unit, Wrightington Hospital, Wigan, UK

    Mike Hayton

  2. Upper Limb Unit, Wrightington Hospital, Wigan, UK

    Chye Yew Ng

  3. Upper Limb Unit, Wrightington Hospital, Wigan, UK

    Lennard Funk

  4. Upper Limb Unit, Wrightington Hospital, Wigan, UK

    Adam Watts

  5. Upper Limb Unit, Wrightington Hospital, Wigan, UK

    Mike Walton

Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers

  • Q1: Which of the following is true regarding the epidemiology of metacarpal thumb fractures?

    1. A.

      Metacarpal head fractures are very common.

    2. B.

      Fractures involving the base of the metacarpal bone constitute the majority of these fractures.

    3. C.

      They are twice as common in young adults as in children and elderly populations.

    4. D.

      Thumb metacarpal injuries are the most common metacarpal injuries in the hand among all age groups.

    5. E.

      They are often not a sports-related injury.

  • Answer: B

  • Q2: Which of the following statements is true regarding collateral ligament injuries?

    1. A.

      Radial collateral ligament injuries are more common than the ulnar injuries.

    2. B.

      Skier’s thumb implies a lesion to the ulnar collateral ligament.

    3. C.

      Gamekeeper’s thumb implies a lesion to the radial collateral ligament.

    4. D.

      A Stener lesion must be treated conservatively.

    5. E.

      A Stener lesion of the radial collateral ligament is more common than for the ulnar collateral ligament.

  • Answer: B

  • Q3: All of the following are true regarding the extra-articular phalangeal thumb fractures except:

    1. A.

      They are less common than the metacarpal thumb fractures.

    2. B.

      Tuft fractures are usually treated conservatively.

    3. C.

      Transverse fractures of the distal phalanx are always stable.

    4. D.

      Longitudinal shaft fractures are rare.

    5. E.

      Tend to involve the nail bed.

  • Answer: C

  • Q4: Which of the following is true regarding the outcomes associated with trapeziometacarpal fractures?

    1. A.

      Bennett’s fractures are associated with the worse outcomes compared to Rolando fractures.

    2. B.

      Rolando’s fractures are associated with the worse clinical outcomes compared to Bennett’s fractures.

    3. C.

      Open reduction and internal fixation is always better than percutaneous pinning.

    4. D.

      Conservative management is contraindicated in these fractures.

    5. E.

      Displacement of Bennett’s fractures is due to pull by the flexor opponens pollicis tendon.

  • Answer: B

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Noureldin, M., Kakar, S. (2019). Thumb Fractures. In: Hayton, M., Ng, C., Funk, L., Watts, A., Walton, M. (eds) Sports Injuries of the Hand and Wrist. In Clinical Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02134-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02134-4_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-02133-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-02134-4

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