What Are Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) Joint Injuries and Skier’s Thumb?

A PIP or Proximal Interphalangeal Joint is the middle joint of a finger. This joint can be pretty unforgiving, becoming extremely stiff, when injured. There are varying degrees of Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) Joint Injuries. 

A simple dislocation without any fracture is invariably a stable injury. Splinting a simple dislocation can be counter-productive as it often results in stiffness. This stiffness often becomes so severe within 3 to 4 weeks that nothing less than a surgical procedure is able to restore motion. What is often not realized is that a finger bone heals fast. If a joint bears a fracture that is significant, the injury can essentially turn irreparable within just 3 weeks. This is why a hand surgeon should be consulted quickly after Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) Joint Injuries. 

Skier’s thumb, which was previously known as Gamekeeper’s Thumb, is an injury whose present principal cause is skiing, resulting in the change in name. This injury is suffered by the Ulnar Collateral ligament of the MP or Metacarpophalangeal Joint of the thumb, which is the sturdy joint that attaches the thumb to the hand. Ligaments are structures functioning as joint stabilizers. Each finger joint has a ligament that stabilizes the joint. 

Skier’s thumb is often the result of a fall onto the thumb, particularly when the thumb is harshly bent back by a ski pole, the ground, or anything that stresses the Ulnar Collateral ligament by pulling the thumb away from the hand.

Finger Fractures Lead to Loss of Gripping Strength

Fingers are very important parts of our body. We use them to do a lot many things like eating, writing, holding etc. Injury to the fingers will make it difficult for us to move them easily and will make us unable to do our daily work smoothly. As fingers are the most used part of body, they are tending to get injuries easily. There are finger injuries, which do not require immediate medical aid, but there are some serious injuries like finger fractures and dislocation which need to be taken proper care of. If you suffer from a fracture in your finger then you should immediately seek medical aid in order to avoid pain and worse condition.

Finger fracture is one of the most common finger injuries and it has different severity levels. Mild fracture can be treated without a surgical treatment while for serious cases, surgery becomes important. If you injure your finger, you should immediately identify and diagnose your injury to avail proper treatment and prevent situation from becoming more serious and complicate. Injuries to the thumb is also very common than the injuries to the other fingers. Injury to the thumb is generally known as Skier’s thumb.

Falling on an outstretched thumb, you may injure it and if you are holding something with your thumb during the fall then there is a possibility of getting serious thumb injuries. One of the most common causes of this injury is falling when skiing holding a ski pole. Skier’s thumb is an injury in which the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpo-phalangeal joint is torn. Chronic stretching of the ligament can also be the cause of its injury. Once injured, the thumb will be swollen and bruised is also very painful. People with this problem often complain that they find it difficult to pinch or hold something with their thumb.