injuries and poisoning
Thumb Sprains
Diagnosis of Thumb Sprains
Physical examination X-rays to check for fractures To determine whether the ligament is torn and, if so, how badly, doctors ask the person to move the injured thumb in various ways. Doctors then move the thumb in various directions while holding the rest of the hand still (called stress testing). If the thumb joint is loose, a sprain is likely. Sometimes before doctors examine the thumb, a local anesthetic is injected near the injured thumb to make the examination less painful. Doctors may also examine the uninjured thumb and compare it with the injured thumb. X-rays are taken from several angles to check for fractures. X-rays may be taken while the doctors applies pressure to the injured thumb (called a stress x-ray). 