Mapping Evidence on Sports-Related Thumb Injuries: Scoping Review Protocol
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Background
“Thumb injuries represent a significant concern in the context of sports, substantially affecting hand function, athletic performance, and return to sport. Despite the high incidence of conditions such as fractures, ligament injuries (e.g., ulnar collateral ligament tears), post-traumatic tenosynovitis (e.g., extensor pollicis longus [EPL] tendinopathy), joint capsule injuries (e.g., metacarpophalangeal dislocations), and De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, the scientific literature lacks a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence.”
Objective
To provide a comprehensive overview of studies addressing both traumatic and overuse-related thumb injuries in athletes, synthesizing data by sport type, injury mechanism, diagnosis, treatment (conservative or surgical), and return to sport outcomes. Additionally, gaps in existing literature and future research priorities will also be identified. An infographic will be developed to support clinicians, physical therapists, and athletes by translating the main findings into practical information regarding injury mechanisms, treatment strategies, and return-to-sport considerations.
Methods
This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the methodological framework outlined in the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. The databases PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and PEDro will be searched for studies published from 2015 onwards, in English or Italian. In addition, Google Scholar will be consulted to identify relevant grey literature. Studies from any setting and involving athletes of all levels will be eligible for inclusion. One reviewer will screen all records and perform full data extraction. Two reviewers will independently check a randomly assigned subset of records to ensure reliability. A fourth reviewer will act as arbitrator and resolve any conflicts between reviewer 1, 2, and 3. Results will be illustrated using descriptive statistics and summarized in an infographic to facilitate clinical applicability.
Ethics and Dissemination
This scoping review does not require ethics approval, as it involves the analysis of previously published data and does not include human participants. An infographic summarizing the main findings will be developed and shared with healthcare professionals, including physical therapists, and with athletes, to provide practical information on injury mechanisms, treatment strategies, and return-to-sport considerations related to thumb injuries. The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented at relevant national and international conferences. Based on the findings, recommendations will be formulated to guide future research directions in this field.
