Trigger Thumb

Also known as Acquired Thumb Flexion Contracture. As you can see by the picture Matthew has a thumb stuck in about 30 degrees of flexion. No wonder the poor boy started holding his fork & spoon in an under grip instead of the normal way...poor thing cannot straighten out his thumb! I noticed it last Saturday at breakfast with my parents. The strange thing is ever since he was born I would notice him always moving his thumbs in weird ways. Almost like he was trying to stretch the thing out.(I guess that's why he never became a thumb sucker like his sisters...probably could not get it in his mouth). When they are little their hands are always clenched & then as they grow their hands are so chubby, parents usually don't catch it until around 18months or so. The basic problem is the tendon that allows the thumb to bend gets stuck (in simplest terms). We will be going to CHOP (Children's Hospital in Philadelphia) in June to see a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. Matthew will most likely need surgery to correct the problem. We'll keep you posted after we see the doc. Happy friday & thumbs up!!