What is a UCL Thumb Injury aka Skier’s Thumb?
It all begins with an idea.
Injuries to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the thumb, also known as Skier’s Thumb or Gameskeepers’ Thumb, have two common causes:
sudden force that stretches the thumb away from the hand by falling onto it
situations in which there is gradual stretching of the ligament over time due to repetitive tasks at work or leisure activities
There are several common injuries to the UCL:
The ligament is sprained or stretched (not fully torn)
The ligament is completely torn
The ligament pulls off a piece of bone with it (avulsion fracture)
If the ligament is stretched, partially torn or avulsed without displacement, surgery is not needed. The thumb will be immobilized for 6 to 8 weeks in a splint to allow complete healing.
For all UCL injuries, while the thumb is being immobilized, it is important that the other joints in the hand do not become stiff. The tip of the thumb and fingers should be moved gently while being splinted. Once healing is adequate, gentle active movement, stretching and strengthening of the thumb are required. Unrestricted activities are allowed 2.5-4 months after the original injury.