A Sprained Thumb is often referred to as Skier’s Thumb, due to the prevalence of this injury during skiing. It is a common cause of thumb pain and swelling. It is caused by damage to a ligament at the base of the thumb, often caused by a ski pole during a fall. However a sprained thumb is not exclusive to skiers and can occur to anyone where there is sufficient force applied to the thumb in a direction away from the hand. In severe cases there is often immediate thumb swelling and pain. Thumb bruising may develop in a few days. In more long standing cases there may be a persistent thickening of the thumb joint with swelling around the base of the thumb.
