Dislocated Thumb

[soulmate33]

Today I slid out on an off camber area and put my hands out to brace my fall.....bad idea. I ended up dislocating my thumb which has turned a 1/4 turn inwards towards my index finger. I can't place my hand flat out on a table now.

According the the orthopaedist, you can't pull it back into place due to a high risk of it popping out again. He says I need to surgically put it back into place.

Surgery for a dislocated thumb?! :(

Anyone out there had experiences with this?

 

[xsnrg]

Not one of those, but I had a very similar experience with a hidden rut in a water hole last summer and busted the digit on the other side of the hand. It required surgery with 2 pins and several months of occupational therapy to still end up with a slightly bent pinky that still does not bend all the way.

I would think a thumb would just pop back in, but then again, I thought they would just tape my broken finger to the one next to it, splint it, and I'd be good as new in a few weeks...WRONG!

 

[gwcrim]

When I was in 8th grade my thumb got popped out by, of all damn things, a basketball. After sitting in the E room forever, they gave me several pain pills. Then a while later three nurses and a doc came in and said those infamous words: "This might hurt a little." There was a nurse on each leg and one on my good arm as the doc attempted to "pop" my thumb back in.

It didn't work and it hurt like he11. After two hours of surgery, they had it back in. To this day, it's range of motion isn't as limber as it was prior to the accident. But it does work quite well.

 

[soulmate33]

Thanks for the replies.

I just got back from the Orthopaedist......good news. :aj:

His earlier over the phone diagnosis for surgery changed to "lets numb the area and I should be able pop it back in". Apparently the ER Doc gave him vague info over the phone (less liability I guess which is understandable).

Voila! I walked outta there a half hour later with my thumb back in place, an on the spot x-ray to confirm proper placement, a splint to immobilize it, and a "I'll see you in a week".

In the 30+ years in the business, he never saw a dislocation like this one. I got lucky no bones were broken at all, definitely surgery then.

Hopefully Riding in a month !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[High Lord Gomer]

:cool: <<== How appropriate!?!?

 

[Speedfreek]

:cool:

 

[bedell99]

I dislocated my thumb exactly how you discribed 2 years ago in a race. It was probably one of the most painful experiences of my life. The emt took me to the ambulance and I thought I broke it. He looked at it and slowly started pressing on it, to see what type of damage there was. I was wincing in pain and then all of the sudden he pushed so lightly on the top of the bone and it popped back in. The pain went from a 10 to a 2 in a matter of seconds. I ended up icing it down on the way home. It took awhile to heal though. It swelled up real bad and I didn't have much movement in it. I can't remember how long it took to ride again but I know it was more than a month and even then it still gave me problems. I still can't bend my thumb more than the other but it doesn't give me any pain. It was a real weird injury. We'll good luck and give rest and it will be allright. I'm not a doctor but unless you torn ligaments, I don't think surgery is necessary.

Erik

 

[soulmate33]

Thank You Very Much for the support......

Tracy