A broken thumb means there's a fracture or crack in one or more bones in the thumb. A splint keeps the broken bone from moving while it heals. Take good care of the splint and treat pain to help keep your child comfortable while healing.

To decrease swelling:

• Prop up the hand on pillows when your child is sitting down or sleeping. 
• If your child was given a sling, use it as directed. They shouldn't use the sling during sleep. 
• Remind your child to wiggle the uninjured fingers to keep blood circulating normally.

If your child has pain:

• When your child is awake, put ice in a plastic bag wrapped in a towel on the thumb for 20 minutes every 3 hours for up to 2 days. Don't put ice directly on the skin.
• Use these medicines exactly as directed:
  • acetaminophen (such as Tylenol^® or a store brand)
    OR
    
  • ibuprofen (such as Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand). Don't give to babies under 6 months old.

Daily care for the splint:

• Don't remove or change the position of the splint unless the health care provider said it's OK.
• Check the area around the splint. Make sure the skin isn't scratched, and the thumb and fingers aren't pale, blue, numb, or tingling.
• Make sure your child doesn't pick or scratch under the splint.
• Don't put anything in the splint. Make sure your child doesn't put toys, food, or anything else into it.
• Keep dirt, sand, lotion, and powder away from the splint.
• Keep the splint dry:
  • Put a plastic covering over the splint when your child bathes. 
  • If the splint gets splashed with water, gently blow air onto it from a hair dryer on the cool setting.

• Pain doesn't improve with medicine.
• Blisters, rashes, or raw spots appear on the skin around the splint.
• A bad smell or drainage comes from the splint.
• Your child gets a fever while the thumb is healing.

The splint:

• feels too tight, or your child's thumb is pale, cold, numb, or tingly
• is cracked or loose, gets wet, or falls off

How long will it take a broken thumb to heal? Most broken thumbs get better in 4–8 weeks with a splint. Your child will have one or more follow-up visits with an orthopedic specialist (a health care provider who specializes in bone care). During these visits, they will check to make sure the thumb is healing well. Sometimes a fracture needs surgery to bring the broken pieces of bone together.

When can my child return to sports? The orthopedic specialist will tell you when it's OK for your child to return to sports. Your child may need to wear protective hand gear or taping for sports for a few weeks or possibly longer.