In reply to coldfell:
I had a bennett's fracture on my thumb in 2015 due to a bad climbing fall - I think that is similar to what you mentioned above. I wasn't aware non-surgery was an option, my thumb was pretty bad after the accident and I suspect I would have never regained any mobility / strength if it wasn't surgically fixed. I had k-wires place into my thumb/wrist to stabilise the joint which were then removed a few months afterwards.
I had ongoing issues with my thumb for a couple of years afterwards, quite bad periods of pain that would last a few weeks in a cyclical nature. It was often made worst by damp weather and certain aggravating movements (holding ice axes and doing push-ups were the worst culprits). For the past few years it has been almost totally fine, occasionally over doing push-ups can bring the pain back but almost all other 'normal' activities and climbing are all fine. I've climbed far harder post accident than pre accident, so should be no worries getting back into it after surgery.
I had some x-rays done of the joint a few years ago which showed some fairly extensive arthritis in the joint, which makes sense as there is a lot of crepitus with certain motions of the thumb joint. I suspect in a few years time the pain will come back and I may have to go down the avenue of steroid injections and eventual fusion of the joint. My surgery wasn't super successful (i was left with a pretty big lump where the bones have been misaligned) so I would imagine the prognosis for most others would be better. However saying that, i'm almost 7 years post surgery now and theres no signs of the pain returning. Fingers crossed.
All the usual stuff about doing the physio etc apply.