Thumb UCL Sprain

A UCL sprain is an acute partial or complete rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the thumb’s metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) due to a hyperabduction trauma of the thumb. This is a relatively common injury where the typical mechanism is the thumb getting caught on a piece of equipment or a person and bent backward. This can result from a direct trauma to the thumb/hand or be a result of repetitive motions from a specific sport (hitting, skiing, hitting a volleyball, etc). If this is not properly addressed, it can result in pain and weakness associated with instability of the hand, as well as return to sport being delayed. This is a very common injury we see in baseball and volleyball athletes.

Here are some of the most common symptoms:

Pain at the base of the thumb in the webspace between the thumb and index finger.

Swelling of your thumb.

Inability to grasp or weakness of grasp between your thumb and index finger.

Tenderness to the touch along the index finger side of your thumb.

Blue or black discoloration of the skin over the thumb.

Thumb pain that worsens with movement in any or all directions.

Pain in the wrist (which may be referred pain from your thumb).

Only a complete tear is considered to need a surgical consult, whereas most cases warrant dedicated therapy and sport-specific reintroduction into healthy and pain-free motion again. Returning to your sport depends on factors including: the timing of presentation (acute or chronic), grade (severity of injury), displacement (stener lesion), and it is important for treatment to distinguish between displaced and non‐displaced UCL tears, location of the tear, and quality of rehabilitation. 

You'll have a constant urge to want to pull it or pop it. Leave it alone!! If it's throbbing pretty badly, you must have a qualified healthcare provider assess you to rule out a fracture or refer you for an X-ray. One of the first things we do at Strength & Spine to treat this is utilize our Class IV laser therapy to manage swelling and acute inflammation, and pair this with simple mobilization. As we progress, we can lightly strengthen the affected area, plus show you how to wrap it to continue playing/practicing.

Here at Strength & Spine, we're sports chiropractors who help athletes get back to their sport. If you’re ready to get back into the game, schedule an appointment online at strengthchiro.com