How Thumb Spica Splints Help Ligament Injuries

Thumb ligament injuries are surprisingly common daily injuries. Most of us ignore the stinging pain in our thumb until it starts to interfere with our daily life. These injuries can happen to anyone, anywhere, while typing, cooking, cleaning, lifting a child, driving, throwing, or catching. This is where a thumb spica splint comes in handy. It is a device designed to manage thumb ligament injury. Whether you’re a sports player or you experienced a sudden accidental fall, this device aids in effective recovery.

In this blog, we’ll peek into what a thumb spica splint is, how it helps thumb ligament injuries, symptoms of thumb ligament injury, how long it takes to heal, and how to treat it.

What is a Thumb Ligament Injury?

A thumb ligament injury occurs when the fibrous bands connecting the thumb bones are stretched, partially torn, or completely ruptured. The supporting ligaments of the thumb are overstretched or torn due to excessive twisting, catching a ball, or bending awkwardly while performing daily life activities. Ligaments are like strong bands that connect your bones and keep the thumb and fingers stable. When too much pressure is exerted on the ligaments, they can become injured, resulting in pain and difficulty with hand function.

Types of Thumb Ligament Injury

• The MCP Joint: This joint is situated where the thumb’s base attaches to the palm.
• Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL): This ligament is positioned on the inside of the thumb. It can be injured activities that involve gripping. 
• Radial Collateral Ligament (RCL): This ligament is located on the thumb's outer side. Rarely, it might be torn during daily activities.
• Sterner Lesion: In severe cases, the UCL can separate from its attachment and become trapped by the adductor aponeurosis, making recovery difficult.  

Mechanism of Thumb Ligament Injury

• Skier's Thumb: Often occurs when falling onto an outstretched hand while holding a ski pole, forcing the thumb to move away from the palm.
• Gamekeeper's Thumb: Develops from repeated or recurring stress that causes the ligament to gradually stretch and become weak, though acute injuries are more common.

Thumb Ligament Injury Symptoms

You can usually recognize a thumb ligament injury by these common symptoms:

• Pain and soreness at the base of the thumb
• Swelling around the thumb joint
• Bruising or skin turning bluish or red
• Stiffness and difficulty moving the thumb
• Tenderness when you touch the thumb
• Weakness and instability of the thumb when touching, gripping, and pinching

What is a Thumb Spica Splint?

A thumb spica splint is an orthopedic-worn gear that supports and limits wrist and thumb movement. It can be used for conditions like:

• Arthritis
• Soft tissue injuries
• Fractures
• De Quervain's syndrome

Why a Thumb Spica Splint is Important

A thumb spica splint is designed to promote superior immobilization for the thumb and to promote relief and recovery of thumb and wrist pain. Benefits of a spica splint to a thumb ligament injury include:

• Reduces pain and inflammation in the thumb ligaments.
• Provides gentle compression and stability that prevents the thumb from further or sudden injuries.
• Promotes safe thumb alignment for natural healing.
• Enables safe and controlled movement when using the entire hand during daily activities.
• Ideal for post-surgery and rehabilitation to promote healing.

So if you were asking yourself; Should I use a splint for a thumb injury? The answer is absolutely! Wearing a thumb spica splint promotes effective yet comfortable recovery.

How Long Does It Take for Thumb Ligaments to Heal

The recovery journey of a thumb ligament is based on how severely it is injured. Here’s how:

• Mild sprains: Sprains are triggered by the stretching of ligaments surrounding the thumb. The healing timeline may take 2-4 weeks.
• Partial/moderate tears: The healing process can take 4-6 weeks or longer, depending on the consistent use of the spica.
• Severe tears: Severe thumb ligament tears may take several months. Surgery and rehabilitation can be performed for proper and safe ligament healing.

How to Manage a Torn Ligament in the Thumb?

Managing a torn ligament might not be as complicated as people think. You can incorporate home remedies to relieve and manage pain. Here’s how:

• Rest: Frequently rest the hand where your injured thumb is located frequently even when wearing a thumb spica support. Refrain from overworking them. Continuous and repetitive use applies extra stress and pressure on them, leading to prolonged or slower recovery. Wearing a thumb spica splint, like Leeford Ortho,  ensures protected and stabilized movement.
• Compression: Wrapping the thumb with an elastic bandage or crepe bandage provides compression and controls swelling.  Use an ice pack or a towel wrapped with ice cubes. Place them on the swollen thumb for 10-15 minutes. Make sure to use this temporary relief method 3–4 times a day to reduce swelling and pain naturally. Also, a warm cloth or a warm water bag improves blood circulation and helps the thumb heal faster. But the question is: should you wrap it overnight? The answer depends on what your doctor advises. If allowed, keep it slightly loose. Do not wrap too tightly, as it may block blood circulation. Remove the bandage before sleeping when experiencing numbness in your thumb or hand.
• Elevation: Keep your hand in a high place or raised above a comfortable level to prevent the formation of fluid.
• Too much dependency on the spica splint may lead to weakened thumb muscles. Engage your thumb in light strengthening stretches to promote natural and safe healing.
• Apply relief creams on the injured thumb or use relief tablets to manage sudden pain and other thumb discomfort after consulting with your healthcare provider.

Remind yourself to consult a healthcare provider if pain is worsening or not improving.

Can You Still Move Your Thumb with a Torn Ligament

Like we said earlier, you can move a thumb with a torn ligament. The motion or movement depends on how severe the tear is. When wearing a thumb spica splint, make sure it’s not too tight, as the damage can also block blood flow and make the pain worse. It might be painful, you might notice:

• A wobbly feeling around the ligament joint when you’re performing tasks
• Pain when pinching or gripping a cup of tea
• Reduced motion and strength

Final Thoughts

A thumb ligament injury may slow you down, but it won’t stop you from performing your routine activities. Make sure to give it rest, try to do a few simple remedies at home, and consider using a Leeford Ortho thumb support to make healing easy and comfortable. Not all thumb ligament injuries are the same, so your healing time may be shorter or longer, which totally depends on the severity of the symptoms. But you need to follow the right steps that your doctor suggests to ensure faster healing.