Fracture is the medical term for a break in a bone. In clinical terms, this is a partial or complete break in a bone that occurs when force applied to it exceeds its structural capacity. A fracture in the area of the hand can cause extreme pain and negatively impact your ability to move and use it.
Boston Hand to Shoulder treats patients from Boston, Massachusetts experiencing fractures of the hand, wrist, and fingers using a number of different treatments, depending on the severity of the injury. If you have a fracture, make an appointment with one of our Boston hand care specialists today.
How to Tell If Your Hand Is Fractured
There are some telltale signs you can use to determine if your hand is fractured. These include:
- Severe pain, especially when gripping or moving your hand
- Swelling of the hand
- Severe bruising
- Tenderness
- Visible deformity such as a crooked finger
- Difficulty moving your fingers
- Numbness in your hand
- A snapping sound at the time of injury
If you believe your hand is fractured, prompt medical attention should be a priority. Make an appointment with one of our hand specialists now.
Fractured Hand Recovery Time
The length of recovery will largely depend on the severity of the fracture. However, with treatment, most fractures will heal in 6-8 weeks. Full strength and return to strenuous activities may take up to 12 weeks depending on individual healing rates, with most people able to resume moderate activities at the 8 week mark.
Treatments
Treatment for a fracture is immobilization of the hand. This is usually done with one of two methods.
- Splints: An easily removable medical device used to stabilize and hold the fractured hand, wrist, or finger in place. A splint can be made from materials such as plastic, metal, or fiberglass.
- Casts: The more robust option, a cast completely immobilizes the hand and is not easily removable, only being removed after the fracture has healed. Casts can be made from plaster or fiberglass.
In cases of severe fractures, surgery may be required to set the bone back in its rightful place. This can involve the use of pins and screws. A hand doctor will be able to determine the best way to treat your fracture.
Exercises for Fractured Hand and Wrist
After featuring your hand or wrist, certain exercises can help you in regaining strength and full range of motion. These exercises include:
- Wrist flexion and extension
- Side-to-side wrist movements
- Finger extensions and curls
- Thumb rotations
- Gentle hand squeezes with a soft ball
- Finger spreads
All of these exercises should only be done within a pain-free range and under the instruction of a hand specialist or physical therapist.
Surgery for Hand Fractures
When it comes to hand fractures, the purpose of surgery is to realign and stabilize the bones in the hand. Surgery is usually reserved for severe, displaced, or unstable fractures. The most common surgeries for hand fractures are:
- Percutaneous pin fixation: This is the most common technique used for hand fractures. Pins are inserted through the skin and into the bone, holding the bones in place.
- Internal fixation: An incision is made in the skin and plates and screws are inserted into the bones to realign and stabilize them.
- External Fixation: Rods or plates are attached to the outside of the hand and screwed into the bone through the skin, providing immobilization and stability.
Surgery for hand fractures is performed by a specialized hand surgeon.
A hand specialist will be able to determine which of these techniques is right for your specific fracture.