Ligament Injuries

Ligament injuries of the hand and wrist involve stretching or tearing of the tissue bands that stabilize joints, commonly caused by sprains, jamming injuries, or falls.

Pain, swelling, and instability of the affected joint, with difficulty gripping or bearing weight through the hand or wrist.

Falls, jamming injuries during sport, and forceful twisting or bending of a joint beyond its normal range.

See a hand surgeon if joint pain, swelling, or instability persists beyond a couple of weeks after injury.

Clinical examination assessing joint stability with stress testing compared to the uninjured side.

X-rays exclude associated fractures; MRI or ultrasound can assess the severity of ligament injury.

Splinting or buddy-taping, activity modification, and structured therapy for partial or stable ligament injuries.

Surgery is considered for complete tears with joint instability that does not respond to splinting.

Surgical repair or reconstruction restores ligament integrity and joint stability, depending on the specific ligament injured.

Splinting continues for several weeks after repair, followed by progressive hand therapy to regain motion and strength.

Most patients regain stable, functional joints with appropriate treatment, particularly when treated promptly.

Infection, stiffness, residual instability, and reduced range of motion in some cases.