Thumb ligament injuries usually occur from a forced radial deviation (abduction) of the thumb during a high-velocity activity. However, in severe type of injuries, both ligaments may be ruptured. The UCL is more commonly injured, usually from forced radial deviation (abduction) of the thumb, while the RCL are rarely injuried. The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and the Radial collateral ligament (RCL). The Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the thumb are stabilize by two major ligaments. Mechanism of Injury / Pathological Process The ligamentous anatomy is analogous to that seen in the finger MCP joints, with extrinsic tendons providing additional support
If you jam your thumb and the tip of the thumb doesn’t move normally, this could be a sign of a ruptured or torn tendon. Important tendons attach on the bottom and top of this joint and move the tip of your thumb back and forth. The word interphalangeal means “between the phalanges”. The IP joint of the thumb is at the tip of the thumb. The ligament can heal without surgery if it’s not moved out of place. This causes the joint to pop out of place and tear a ligament.
Sometimes this joint is injured when you jam it in a skiing or sports injury. Compare MP thumb joints around your family and you may find some big differences. This joint moves a lot in some people and just a little in other people. Break down the words in the name, metacarpophalangeal, and you get metacarpo- (hand bone) and phalangeal (finger bone). The MP joint of the thumb is the middle joint of the thumb, located between the CMC joint and the tip of the thumb. The CMC joint’s main function is to allow the thumb to open and grasp wide objects, like a basketball or (for us mortals) a large glass of your favorite beverage. This joint is commonly affected by arthritis. Break down the words in the name, carpometacarpal, and you get carpo- (wrist) and metacarpal (hand bone). The CMC joint of the thumb is located at the junction point of the thumb and the wrist.
#BREAKING YOUR THUMB LIGAMENT SERIES#
In this series of articles, I’ll go through some of these terms along with some helpful diagrams and shed some light on the common language of hand and arm surgery.
#BREAKING YOUR THUMB LIGAMENT HOW TO#
In this article, I’ll quickly show you how to identify the joints in your thumb. Many patients want to use the right technical terms when talking with their physician, and this can certainly improve the efficiency of your office visit.