Hand Fractures
What is a hand fracture?
The hand is a framework of 19 bones that support a network of tendons, ligaments and muscles. Those bones consist of the five metacarpals, the bones that lie within the palm of the hand, and the 14 phalanges of the fingers. A break in any of these bones is a hand fracture.
What are the causes of the fracture?
The common denominator of a fracture is that a bone breaks when enough force is applied to it. That force can be applied from outside, as in hitting a finger with a hammer, or from the action of the hand itself, as in throwing a punch. Hand fractures are commonly associated with athletics, occupational injuries and accidents, including automobile accidents.
What are common fractures of the hand?
Fractures of the hand fall into three groups. A simple fracture is a clean break in which the bone remains in alignment. A comminuted fracture occurs when the bone is broken into several pieces, generally with accompanying instability. If a fracture implicates the joint at the end of the fractured bone, it is known as an articular fracture, a condition that may need special care in order to maintain proper joint function in the future.
In addition, fractures can be categorized by the specific site of the injury. Boxer’s fracture, for example, refers to an injury at the distal end of the metacarpal, most often the fifth metacarpal that is part of the little finger. The injury occurs because a clenched fist uses the knuckles to apply force.
What are the symptoms of the fracture?
A fracture of the hand is characterized by pain, tenderness, numbness, swelling and difficulty using the affected hand. The hand may also be bruised or deformed.
Treatment Options
What are the non-surgical treatment options?
For a simple fracture, treatment consists of the application of cold to reduce swelling, pain medication and a cast, splint or sling to immobilize the injured hand. If the bone is out of alignment, a closed reduction, in which the bone is manipulated back into its proper position, may be attempted.
What are the surgical treatment options?
Surgery is often required for more complex fractures. This generally entails an open reduction in which the fractured bones are realigned via an incision at the site of the injury. Once the bones are properly in place, they can be held in that position with plates, pins and screws set into the bone. The surgeon may also use an external fixator, a device that attaches internal pins to an external metal framework in order to maintain proper bone alignment.
Recovery Time
Healing of a simple fracture generally takes from four to six weeks, but recovery times are longer for presentations that are more complex. Since the goal of the recovery process is to restore normal functionality, it is important to begin moving the injured area as soon as clinically possible in order to minimize the chances of chronic stiffness and discomfort after the fracture has healed. In addition, patients may develop a bump at the fracture site, a generally unavoidable consequence of natural bone growth. While that bump will often decrease in size, it may never disappear completely.
Hand Fractures Animation Videos
Fractures of the Hand (Metacarpal Fractures)
Fractures of the Finger/Finger Fracture Fixation
Boxer’s Fracture
Disclaimer
HandSurgeonOrangeCounty.com does not offer medical advice. The information presented here is offered for informational purposes only. Read Disclaimer.
