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Gamekeeper's Thumb: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, & Compensation

by James K. Murphy

Gamekeeper's thumb (sometimes referred to as skier's thumb or simply a UCL or ulnar collateral ligament tear) is a specific type of injury to the joint that connects the thumb to the palm. The UCL, which is injured in the case of gamekeeper's thumb, is a band of fibrous tissue connecting the bones at the base of the thumb. When the thumb is pushed to the side away from the index finger, a tear in the UCL can occur and, sometimes, even small chips of bones are torn off.

Origin and Causes
The term develeped because the injury was common among hunters (called gamekeepers), in particular fowl-hunters in Scotland who typically carried their game home by connecting a leather thong to their thumbs and draping the animals over their shoulders. Another history of the terminology suggests that the injury derived its name from English gamekeepers who sustained the injury after killing rabbits by applying pressure from their thumbs to the back of rabbits' necks. Due to the repetition of these actions, gamekeepers developed the injury over time rather than in isolated events. Sudden falls or other accidents causing blows to the thumb such as car accidents, however, can result in the injury as well.

A similar injury occurs when skiers fall while gripping their ski poles, which often catches the thumb in the ski pole loop and puts stress on the UCL. The name "skiier's thumb," however, typically refers to a more minor injury than gamekeeper's thumb. Other athletes and individuals who suffer sever falls have developed either one of the injuries, depending on each particular incident.

Details (What Happens), Symptoms, and Treatment
The severity of gamekeeper's thumb is sometimes related to the inability of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) to return to its original position after being moved. A sheet of tissue typically covers the ligament, meaning that a tear to the UCL can result in a tear to the protective tissue, for some. The end of the ligament becomes trapped if it pokes through the hole in this tissue, making it difficult for the thumb to heal without treatment and causing a loss of strength and abnormal movement that can lead to arthritis and other problems. Other symptoms of gamekeeper's thumb include stiffness, pain, swelling, weakness in the thumb when grasping or holding objects, a lack of stability in the thumb, and bruising. In some cases, the ligament can heal with the simple use of a splint for the wrist or thumb cast, but more serious tears require surgery. Regardless of the ranges in necessary treatment, AMA guidelines typically give victims of gamekeeper's thumb at least a ten percent (10%) impairment rating.

Claiming Compensation
We represent clients who have been diagnosed with gamekeeper's thumb as a result of car accidents. If you believe you have sustained a similar injury in an accident that was not your fault, please feel free to call us at Murphy & Associates with any questions you may have. Claiming compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages as a result of this type of injury is a fair and appropriate response, and we will gladly answer your questions for free about your rights, what you can do, and how to proceed. 770-577-3020.