Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury S63. 649A 842.12 | eORIF.
A UCL injury is a tear or other damage to the soft tissue that connects the bones of the thumb and provides stability to the thumb joint. The condition is often referred to as skier's thumb because it is a common injury among skiers.
26540This was a retrospective study of all patients seen and treated for thumb injuries at a single institution from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, undergoing RCL or UCL repair (CPT code 26540).
The ulnar collateral ligament to the thumb is a complex ligament, comprised of the UCL proper and the accessory UCL. Together, they stabilize the thumb for pinch and grip activities; without this ligament, you would have very little pinch or grip strength and very poor overall dexterity.
The term "Gamekeeper's thumb" was first coined in 1955 by Campbell who identified UCL injuries as an occupational disease in Scottish gamekeepers. The gamekeepers strangled rabbits using their thumb and index finger, and the repeated valgus stresses resulted in UCL injury and chronic instability of the MCP joint.
UCL injures can be partial or complete tears and can present with varying degrees of instability. It is this degree of instability that usually dictates the treatment options. Some tears are treated with a cast and immobilization while other tears need to fixed surgically.
CPT® 26540, Under Repair, Revision, and/or Reconstruction Procedures on the Hand and Fingers. The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code 26540 as maintained by American Medical Association, is a medical procedural code under the range - Repair, Revision, and/or Reconstruction Procedures on the Hand and Fingers.
The lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL) is an important stabilizing ligament of the elbow. It is involved in many functions of everyday life such as lifting and pushing one's self out of a chair. This ligament is usually injured by way of a traumatic injury as opposed to overuse and wear.
A Stener lesion occurs when a complete distal, thumb ulnar collateral ligament tear results in the interposition of the aponeurosis of the adductor pollicis muscle between the metacarpophalangeal joint and torn ligament.
In the case of a partial tear without instability, keeping the thumb immobilized with a special cast for roughly six weeks typically allows full healing. In the case of a full tear, Dr. Nance may have to perform surgery, followed by a period of immobilization to allow the injury to properly heal.
It typically takes 4-6 weeks for the ligament to heals sufficiently for light use and may take longer before return to sports.
You will generally have no pain, and the numbing medication usually lasts about 8 or more hours, so you will leave the surgery center with no pain.
If your UCL tear can be treated without surgery, the recovery may last anywhere from several weeks to several months. It depends on the range of motion you'd like to achieve in the elbow. Your physician and physical therapist will work together to monitor your progress.
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A Stener lesion is a type of traumatic injury to the thumb. It occurs when the aponeurosis of the adductor pollicis muscle becomes interposed between the ruptured ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the thumb and its site of insertion at the base of the proximal phalanx.