10/23/2026
Summary: A jammed thumb can injure the UCL, the ligament that keeps your thumb stable when you pinch and grip. OrthoNebraska orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Otten explains that this injury often happens from an awkward catch, a jersey grab or a fall, and it’s easy to overlook because it’s less obvious than a fracture. Pain, bruising, swelling or instability at the base of the thumb are signs to see a specialist.
Video transcript
[0:00] Host: Welcome back to football on the OrthoNebraska halftime show. We always learn about new things, and this is something we’ve never talked about: UCL injuries in the thumb. Dr. Michael Otten, an orthopedic surgeon, is here. What’s going on there?
[0:17] Dr. Otten: The thumb has a strong ligament that sits at the big knuckle at the base of the thumb, on the inside. It’s responsible for keeping the thumb stable when you pinch, grip and grasp. It can be injured, especially at a football game, if you jam your thumb or it gets pulled by a jersey. It’s an important injury to know about, because unlike a fracture, which is more obvious, people may not realize they need to see a doctor.
[0:41] Host: What symptoms should we look for?
[0:43] Dr. Otten: Pain, bruising, swelling or instability at the base of the thumb can tip you off that there may be an injury to this ligament.
[0:54] Host: And how do these usually happen?
[0:58] Dr. Otten: It can happen from jamming the thumb when you catch a football awkwardly, from a jersey catching the thumb, or from falling and jamming your thumb against the ground.
[1:09] Host: All right, thank you very much. Always very informative on the OrthoNebraska halftime show.
