Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
🚨Emergency? If you have severe symptoms, difficulty breathing, or think it's an emergency, call 000 immediately.
Skier's Thumb (Gamekeeper's Thumb)
Gamekeeper's thumb, more commonly called skier's thumb, is a tear or rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament on the inner side of your thumb base, usually from falling onto an outstretched thumb (classic skiing injury when thumb gets caught in pole strap) or ball forcefully bending thumb outward—causing immediate pain, swelling, and weak pinch grip. Partial tears can heal with 4-6 weeks in a thumb spica cast, but complete tears (especially Stener lesions where the torn ligament flips over and can't heal on its own) require surgery to reattach the ligament within 2-3 weeks, otherwise leading to chronic thumb instability, weak pinch strength, and early arthritis if left untreated.
📖What is Skier's Thumb (Gamekeeper's Thumb)?
Gamekeeper's thumb, more commonly called skier's thumb, is a tear or rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament on the inner side of your thumb base, usually from falling onto an outstretched thumb (classic skiing injury when thumb gets caught in pole strap) or ball forcefully bending thumb outward—causing immediate pain, swelling, and weak pinch grip. Partial tears can heal with 4-6 weeks in a thumb spica cast, but complete tears (especially Stener lesions where the torn ligament flips over and can't heal on its own) require surgery to reattach the ligament within 2-3 weeks, otherwise leading to chronic thumb instability, weak pinch strength, and early arthritis if left untreated.
🔬What Causes It?
- Fall while skiing with thumb caught in pole strap (most common - 'skier's thumb')
- Fall onto outstretched hand with thumb extended
- Ball forcefully hitting thumb (volleyball, basketball, handball)
- Thumb hyperextension injury in contact sports
- Chronic repetitive stress (historical 'gamekeeper's thumb' from Scottish gamekeepers breaking rabbits' necks)
⚠️Risk Factors
You may be at higher risk if:
- Skiing (especially using pole straps)
- Volleyball, handball, basketball
- Rugby, AFL (thumb caught in opposition clothing)
- Rock climbing or bouldering (thumb hyperextension)
- Previous thumb UCL injury (increased re-injury risk)
🛡️Prevention
- ✓Avoid using ski pole straps (or use quick-release straps)
- ✓Tape thumbs prophylactically for high-risk sports (volleyball, handball)
- ✓Strengthen thumb and hand muscles
- ✓Proper falling technique in skiing
- ✓Address chronic thumb instability before it progresses to arthritis