Thumb fracture

A thumb fracture can also be called a break or a crack. These words all mean the same thing.

With a fracture, the bone isn't the only part that's hurt. You'll also have injured some of the soft tissues around it. Soft tissues include the:

• muscles
• ligaments
• tendons
• nerves

Most of the healing after a thumb fracture happens between 3 to 6 weeks after the injury. You may still have aches and some discomfort beyond this, and that's normal. It usually shows up when you try activities you haven't done for a while. The area can also stay more sensitive for some time after the injury.

It's good to use your hand in everyday activities. Do remember that this counts as exercise too, so sometimes you might need to rest if your hand aches after certain activities.

Smoking affects all of your tissues, and with a thumb fracture it slows the time your bone takes to heal. In some people it can stop healing altogether.

If you stop smoking while your fracture heals, you give yourself the best chance of a good recovery. Ask for help to stop smoking.

Some medical conditions, such as diabetes, can slow down the healing of a thumb fracture. Eating a healthy diet and staying active will help you recover.

Some medicines can slow down the healing of a thumb fracture. If you're worried about a medicine you take, talk to a doctor.

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen have been shown to delay healing.

A thumb fracture is a minor fracture, and doctors often treat it in the same way as a sprain.

Some people may be fitted with a splint, or a wrist splint with a thumb piece. You may only need these for a couple of weeks.

It's normal to have some discomfort in the areas around a thumb fracture, including:

• other soft tissues
• nearby joints
• areas that have been immobilised

Pain can change from day to day, and it doesn't always depend on what you're doing. Pain at rest is common too.

Some pain is normal even after the fracture has healed. A few people also find the fracture site uncomfortable in colder weather.

Your local pharmacy can give you advice on managing pain after a fracture.

Swelling is the start of healing, so with a thumb fracture it's normal to have swelling near the break. It can then spread into your hand or wrist.

The swelling might change depending on:

• your position
• your activity
• the time of day

Even after the fracture has healed, some swelling is normal. This can last for several months.

A lot of swelling with a thumb fracture can become uncomfortable, and it can limit how well you move. There are a few things you can do to bring the swelling down. You can try to:

• raise your arm above your heart when you're resting (you can support it with pillows)
• keep the other joints in your hand and arm moving normally
• avoid too much rest and too much activity
• massage the swelling

Bruising is normal after a thumb fracture. It can spread widely, and sometimes it shows up a long way from the break itself. At the start it may look very purple, and the colour can change as you recover.

Keep doing any activities you can, as far as your pain allows, and slowly do a little more as time goes on.

You may find things harder at first because your thumb is less flexible and not as strong as before. This will get better as you slowly build back up to all your usual activities.

Feeling frustrated or low after an injury like a thumb fracture is normal. It should get better as you go back to your usual life.

There are things you can do yourself to help your recovery after a thumb fracture.

Between 0 to 3 weeks after your thumb fracture, you should:

• use the hand within the splint for light activities like eating, dressing or typing on a keyboard, as long as the pain allows
• move your thumb, fingers and wrist a little more each day with gentle exercises
• manage your pain and swelling
• wean yourself off the splint as far as comfort allows

Between 3 and 6 weeks after a thumb fracture, you can slowly start using your hand fully again. You can also go back to your normal day to day activities.

Keep away from contact sports and heavy lifting until at least 12 weeks after the fracture.

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Stop exercising if it makes your symptoms worse or causes new pain.

If your thumb still isn't working properly after 6 weeks of following this advice, it's a good idea to talk to a doctor about your symptoms.

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