1. Skier’s or Game Keeper’s thumb
As the name suggests, while doing skiing or any sport which involves holding stick or rod like object, the injury to thumb is commonly seen. The ligament known as ulnar collateral ligament or radial collateral ligament which protects the joint of thumb gets partially or completely torn in such sports. Apart from skiing, sports like cycling, hockey, cricket or skating can cause these ligament tears.
One has to consult hand surgeon to rule out associated fractures in thumb. Usually x ray or ultrasonography is required to treat such injuries properly. If treated in time either by splints or sometimes by surgery followed by supervised rehabilitation, person can resume same activity in four to eight weeks.
2. Mallet finger
Injury to the fingertip at the base of nail or joint due to direct hit can cause mallet finger. It leads to inability to extend the finger actively in distal interphalangeal joint and finger looks bent. That is because of either avulsion fracture or avulsion of tendon (extensor digitorum communis ) from the bone which is responsible to extend that joint. It is observed in sport like cricket while catching a ball or due to direct hit of ball on finger.
Very often, it is successfully treated in splint if the person follows proper instruction of hand surgeon. If fracture fragment is bigger or non-operative treatment fails then surgery is recommended to achieve normal function.
3. Jersey finger
It is often seen while playing rugby or pulling jersey or t-shirt with single digit or finger. The tendon called flexor digitorum profundus which is inserted at the distal phalanx in finger gets avulsed with or without bone fragment causing inability to bend or flex the finger at the distal interphalangeal joint.
Once the diagnosis is confirmed on x-ray or ultrasonography, such injuries require surgery to fix the tendon with bone back to its position either by screw, button or anchor under the guidance of hand surgeon.
4. Fractures around proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint
These are very challenging injuries in hand. If untreated or not properly treated, they can lead to stiffness or compromised movement in PIP joint. Cricket, long tennis, or any sport which involves running and fall on hand can cause such fractures. These fractures are commonly associated with dislocation of PIP joint which makes the accurate treatment mandatory under supervision of hand surgeon.
We have noticed negligence by the sportsperson many times. There are simple treatment remedies available in the form of splints for such fractures to heal if reported early. In chronic or more than a month-old injury may need challenging surgeries and long-term rehabilitation for better function.
5. Carpal bones or ligament injuries around wrists
This injury usually occurs due to fall on out-stretched hand while driving motor bike or fall from height or fall while cycling. There are small bones connected to each other in very organized fashion in wrist (carpal bones and ligaments). Due to high velocity of trauma, either these bones get fracture or they get dissociated from each other due to rupture of ligaments.
As the sportsperson may have other grievous injuries on body, such wrist problems are commonly missed and they present to hand surgeon much later with pain, swelling and restricted movement/ function in wrist. The fractures around wrist can be treated in plasters, splints or by surgery. The ligaments like scapho-lunate ligament or Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) ligaments are more often to get injury.
These injuries need assessment, investigations like X-ray and MRI to confirm the severity of problem before execution of treatment. Now a days, we consider wrist arthroscopy (key-hole surgery in wrist) to treat such injuries so that person can resume activities as early as possible.
Any hand or wrist injuries related to sports causing pain, swelling, deformity and restricted movement or function must be evaluated in time by hand expert. Early diagnosis and accurate management can give better functional outcome and sportsperson can resume back to the sport as early as possible. Even neglected injuries can be treated if person has willingness to follow proper rehabilitation after management.
Thank You.
Regards.
Dr Parag B Lad
Director & Consultant Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgeon
Pinnacle Orthocentre Thane
Contact-7028859555, (+91-22-25419000)
Web: www.pinnacleorthocentre.com