Whenever you pick up something, your thumb plays an important role in it along with the other four fingers. A thumb is the first and shortest digit of the human hand, located on the side of the palm. It allows you to squeeze and hold large objects, like a hammer, a baseball bat, or a steering wheel. A ligament injury in the thumb commonly known as a sprained thumb occurs when the tough bands of tissue connecting the bones in your thumb stretch beyond their limits or tear.
For thumb support, an orthopedic brace is required that helps provide the necessary support. And in this blog, we will read about how a thumb spica splint helps support ligament injuries.
What is Thumb Pain?
A sharp sensation that you experience in your thumb and are unable to move it in any direction, it is referred to as thumb pain. This pain can extend from the top of your thumb all the way to your wrist. Due to an injury, several tasks may come to a halt, because your thumb handles about 50% of your hand’s overall function. That a minor pain can significantly impact daily tasks. There are also several reasons for thumb pain.
Thumb Pain Causes
Here are the common causes of thumb pain:
- Trigger thumb
- Arthritis
- Tendonitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Skier’s thumb
A condition where the thumb gets stuck where you are unable to bend or straighten the thumb. By the wear and tear of cartilage in the CMC joint at the base of the thumb which is a common cause of arthritis. Tendonitis are distinct but frequently overlapping conditions that cause pain and stiffness in the hand. Pressure on the median nerve in the wrist which results in numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain in the thumb and fingers. A common injury involves a tear or sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament, which is the band of tissue stabilizing the inside of the thumb’s main knuckle.
Symptoms of Thumb Pain
A pain which is dull and occurs near the wrist that intensifies during twisting or gripping actions like opening jars. You also notice the difficulty while bending, straightening, or moving the thumb through its full range of motion, which is often the most severe first thing in the morning. Clicking or popping sound in which the thumb physically catches or snaps into place when you try to straighten it. It also includes swelling that can occur for various reasons, such as the thumb sustaining an injury. Tenderness and bruising that form at the base of the thumb joint. A functional loss where you are not able to make a grip and struggling to squeeze objects or hold any heavy item.
What is Thumb Spica Splint?
A thumb spica is an orthopedic aid that helps to immobilize the wrist and thumb. It is designed to hold the thumb in a neutral resting position while keeping the other fingers free. This aid primarily helps to stabilize the thumb and wrist. It also promotes healing and reduces pain. Thumb spica splint is used when there are any thumb ligament injuries due to overuse of wrist and thumb tendons. If there is any fracture, this aid helps in healing of the scaphoid or metacarpal bones.
Thumb Spica Splint for Ligament Injuries
A thumb spica splint immobilizes the thumb and wrist while keeping the remaining fingers free. It is highly effective for the ligament injuries that stabilize the thumb, fractures, and severe sprains by preventing movement and reducing strain during healing. It also limits the range of motion of the joints to minimize inflammation.
How Long Should You Use a Thumb Spica Splint?
The duration of using a thumb spica splint quite usually depends on the type of injury that you are dealing with. It also depends on the severity.
- Minor sprains: 1–2 weeks
- Moderate injuries: 3–4 weeks
- Fractures or post-surgery recovery: 4–6+ weeks
Key Takeaways
A thumb plays an important role in picking up anything. A discomfort that you felt in the thumb joints, muscles, tendons, or nerves can make things challenging. A ligament injury in the thumb commonly known as a sprained thumb. It occurs when the tough bands of tissue connecting the bones in your thumb stretch beyond their limits or tear. This usually happens due to a fall or a sudden impact that forcefully bends the thumb backward or sideways. Thumb pain originates from the tip of your thumb down to its base where it connects to the wrist. A constant use of thumb spica splint can be highly beneficial if you are dealing with repetitive strain, arthritis at the wrist base, and traumatic sports injuries. To recover, a thumb spica splint is a highly effective tool that immobilizes the joint and accelerates tissue healing. It helps to stabilize the thumb and wrist and reduces pain.
