Which ligament is damaged in Gamekeeper’s thumb, and how is it immobilized?

Study for the NBCOT Hand Injuries and Intervention Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations. Get ready for success!

Multiple Choice

Which ligament is damaged in Gamekeeper’s thumb, and how is it immobilized?

Gamekeeper’s thumb is an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament at the thumb’s metacarpophalangeal joint, usually from a forceful abductive/valgus stress to the thumb.To allow the torn or stretched UCL to heal, the thumb is immobilized with a thumb-spica splint, which holds the MCP joint in a protective position while the rest of the hand remains mobile. This typically lasts several weeks (often about 4–6) and preserves function while healing occurs. If there’s a complete rupture or a Stener lesion, surgical repair may be needed, but for most partial injuries the thumb-spica splint is the standard initial treatment. The other options don’t fit because the injury is specifically at the UCL of the thumb’s MCP joint, not the IP joint, not the index finger, and not best treated with buddy taping or a general cast.

Gamekeeper’s thumb is an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament at the thumb’s metacarpophalangeal joint, usually from a forceful abductive/valgus stress to the thumb.To allow the torn or stretched UCL to heal, the thumb is immobilized with a thumb-spica splint, which holds the MCP joint in a protective position while the rest of the hand remains mobile. This typically lasts several weeks (often about 4–6) and preserves function while healing occurs. If there’s a complete rupture or a Stener lesion, surgical repair may be needed, but for most partial injuries the thumb-spica splint is the standard initial treatment. The other options don’t fit because the injury is specifically at the UCL of the thumb’s MCP joint, not the IP joint, not the index finger, and not best treated with buddy taping or a general cast.

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