It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible, especially if bones are out of place to get immediate reduction of the dislocation. Learn more about treating these symptoms here. Loss of finger, hand, wrist and/or grip strength.Feeling of numbness and discomfort when moved.Limited and painful thumb range of motion.Sharp pain around one or more of the thumb joints.What are the signs of a dislocated thumb and how can you determine the best type of treatment? Listed below are the several dislocated thumb symptoms to look out for: Luckily, tools like arthritis gloves are available to ease pain and keep the hands moving more comfortably. In some cases, rheumatoid arthritis can increase the likelihood of experiencing a dislocated thumb because of local joint damage and instability.
This injury can damage the stability and integrity of local connective tissues in the thumb and makes it difficult to retain full mobility of the thumb or keep a normal position of the hand for daily activities. Many basketball players suffer a dislocated thumb knuckle after being hit by the ball at the distal phalanx (tip of the thumb) and hyperextending the joint. Typically, a thumb dislocation is caused by direct trauma due to a fall or high impact sports injuries. Swelling and pain may be present, and some severe cases need surgery. However, it is a very rare injury and accounts for less than 1% of thumb injuries. A dislocated CMC joint injury most often results from overextension and high impact in this area, as pressure is applied to the carpometacarpal joint. The carpo-metacarpal (CMC) joint is located near the wrist, acting as a bridge to the palm. Treatment and recovery require reduction and stabilization of the joint with an appropriate brace to allow connective tissue healing.
It is more common than thumb IP joint injuries. Dislocated thumb MCP joint injuries occur when excessive strain is placed on the metacarpophalangeal joint with hyperextension or a fall. The metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint connects your palms to your fingers, except in the thumb where this joint is located in the web space. The dislocation requires immediate reduction and often needs surgery to repair damaged tissues or remove bone fragments. This injury is typically associated with tendon ruptures, avulsion fractures, and damage to the connective tissue that stabilizes the thumb IP joint known as the volar plate. A dislocated thumb IP joint is caused by excessive pressure on the end of the thumb (hyperextension or axial loading), possibly caused by a fall. This kind of thumb injury is rare when compared to an MCP joint injury (see below). The interphalangeal (IP) joint is the most distal joint in the thumb. There are three different joints in the thumb that can be dislocated, depending on where and how impact occurs. However, fingers (including the thumb and particularly the middle joint), are some of the most commonly dislocated joints. Thankfully, this type of injury rarely occurs unless you are an athlete or are in a high-impact accident. Broken bones and strained connective tissues are among the most serious and difficult-to-treat hand injuries that can result from dislocation and severely impact your daily activities.
What is a Dislocated Thumb?Ī dislocated thumb is an injury in which one of the joints of the thumb is over-extended beyond its limitations.
Learn everything you need to know with this detailed guide on dislocated thumb injuries and discover what treatment options may be best for you. Could you imagine writing, typing, or playing your favorite sport without the use of your thumb? Even if a dislocated thumb is less common than some other finger injuries, the potential challenges and complications are worth taking seriously.