Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury (Gamekeeper's Thumb)

Excerpt

Clarification: This article refers to ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the first metacarpophalangeal joint of the hand (Gamekeeper's thumb) and not injuries to the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow that often lead to Tommy John surgery.

Ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the thumb were first described in gamekeepers who sustained the injury from the repetitive nature of breaking the neck of small game such as birds and rabbits. Hence, this was originally referred to as the gamekeeper's thumb. The recurrent thumb hyperextension sustained by gamekeepers would mechanically lead to degeneration and tears of the ulnar collateral ligament at the base of the first metacarpophalangeal joint. More recently, this condition has also been referred to as skier's thumb since it is more commonly observed in individuals who fall while holding ski poles, which mechanistically causes the same type of hyperextension thumb injury.