What are some treatments for a broken thumb?

Surgeons use specially designed casts or surgery to treat a broken thumb, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The treatment method varies based on the location and severity of the injury.

Surgeons usually use a nonsurgical method utilizing a spica cast for injuries that have not severely displaced the bone fragments, or for injuries in which the break is in the middle shaft of the bone, explains the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Surgical treatment aims to realign and stabilize the bone fragments while healing. Internal or external devices hold the bone fragments in place, and the patient wears a cast after surgery.