What is the ulnar collateral ligament and what is its function?
The ulnar collateral ligament is a ligament on the inside of the thumb that connects the metacarpal bone to the first phalanx at the base (bottom) of the thumb. This ligament prevents the thumb from pointing too far away from the hand and supports pinch and grasp activities, acting like a hinge to keep the main thumb joint (the metacarpophalangeal joint) stable. What is an ulnar collateral ligament sprain? A sprain to the ulnar collateral ligament occurs when the ligament gets stretched or torn, usually as a result of an injury. The severity of the sprain may be mild (grade I), moderate (grade II) or severe (grade III). Severe tears usually mean that the ulnar collateral ligament is completely torn. What does an ulnar collateral ligament sprain feel like? Depending on the severity of the sprain, an ulnar collateral ligament sprain may or may not hurt right away. There may be bruising, tenderness at the bottom of the thumb, swelling and/or an inability to grasp items between the thumb a
