Skiers Thumb eMedicine Sports

Description: Injuries to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the thumb were first recognized as an occupational condition in European gamekeepers. By repetitively wringing the necks of game (eg, chickens) between their thumb and index finger, these workers produced a chronic stretching of the UCL that resulted in instability at the first metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint. The condition became known as gamekeeper's thumb. Today, the injury is primarily caused by acute (rather than chronic and repetitive) damage to the UCL, most often due to a skiing accident; hence, the condition is now commonly referred to as skier's thumb.
Synonyms and related keywords: gamekeeper's thumb, break dancer's thumb, injury to the ulnar collateral ligament of the first metacarpophalangeal joint, UCL injury
Foye et al 2007