How long does it take for UCL thumb to heal?

How long does it take for UCL thumb to heal?

1-6 weeks: If the ligament is partially torn then a splint or cast is usually worn for six weeks and after its removal a programme of exercises is used to get the thumb moving again. It can take several weeks for the movement and the strength to return.

How do you treat a UCL thumb?

Treatment of Skier’s/Gamekeeper’s Thumb (UCL Tear) Patients with an injured UCL typically require immobilization with a splint or cast for up to 6 weeks to reduce swelling for a better surgical outcome.

Can you move your thumb with a UCL tear?

This injury is sometimes called “skier’s thumb” because skiers are prone to this injury when they fall with their hand strapped to a ski pole. A thumb UCL injury can be very painful and make the thumb feel unstable. The injury can limit movements, such as squeezing and gripping, needed for many sports.

Can a UCL thumb tear heal without surgery?

UCL injuries can be treated surgically or non‐surgically. Non‐surgical or conservative options include plaster or splint immobilization (Sollerman 1991).

How long does pain last after UCL thumb surgery?

You will be limited for the first 6 weeks with pain, weakness, and stiffness in the hand and thumb. Most patients have minimal pain by 6 weeks after surgery, with nearly full thumb and hand motion by 3 months. Your symptoms will continue to improve by working in therapy.

Does a torn UCL hurt all the time?

What You Need to Know. The most common UCL injury is a UCL tear that is usually gradual but may also happen in a single traumatic event. Pain on the inner side of the elbow is the most common symptom of a UCL injury. A UCL tear may sometimes feel like a “pop” after throwing followed by intense pain.

How do I know if I tore my UCL in my thumb?

Symptoms of a UCL tear include pain in the webbing between thumb and index finger, bruise-like discoloration on the thumb’s skin, and swelling of the thumb that develops over the hours immediately following the injury.

How long does it take to recover from thumb joint surgery?

In a traditional thumb joint reconstruction, the surgeon removes the trapezium — the small bone that connects the thumb to the wrist — then harvests a piece of tendon from the patient and implants it between the thumb and wrist to serve as a spacer. Patients often need three months to fully recover.

How long is recovery from UCL surgery?

Patients can expect the entirety of Phase I recovery to take about 6 weeks. Phase II. Approximately 6 weeks following the surgery, elbow and shoulder strengthening exercises are advanced. It’s important to know strengthening exercises should not be limited to just the elbow.

Can you live with a torn UCL?

“Many people can tolerate a torn or stressed UCL for the rest of their lives,” he says. “There aren’t many activities that require that kind of stress, over and over again, on that inner part of the elbow.”

How long does a torn UCL take to heal with surgery?

Rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery usually takes about a year. In some cases, up to 2 years are needed for athletes to return to their previous level of ability. Other types of UCL surgery may not need this much rehabilitation.

Does a torn thumb ligament require surgery?

If the thumb ligaments are only partially torn, they usually heal without surgery. Your thumb will be immobilized for four to six weeks in a special cast, called a thumb spica cast. Patients who are treated nonsurgically with a thumb spica cast can start our Physical Therapy program when the cast is removed.