UCL Repair — Arthrex Internal Brace

Orthopaedic Associates of Maine

Weight-Bearing

FWB; thumb spica splint wks 0-6

Key Restrictions

Thumb spica cast/splint wks 0-2 (bag for shower); removable thumb spica wks 2-6; no pinching, grabbing, or lifting until wks 6-8; discontinue brace at 6-8 wks; avoid sustained heavy pinch until 16 wks; return to sport at 16 wks

Timeline & Phases

Wks 0-2 (thumb spica, ROM of uninvolved joints), Wks 2-4, Wks 4-6, Wks 6-8 (wean brace, light strengthening), Wks 8-16 (progressive strengthening), 16+ (RTS)

Notes

Thumb UCL repair (ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb/MCP joint); not elbow UCL; return to sport at 16 weeks