Hand Fractures

What is a hand fracture?

Hand fractures are caused when there is a break in one or more of the bones in the hand.

If you are worried you may have fractured your hand, there are some signs and symptoms to look out for:

Your hand may swell, bruise, or discolour around the injury site
You may notice deformity in the bone or the knuckle and there may be movement of the broken bone fragments
Pain
If you have an open fracture, there will be a wound over the injury

Commonly seen types of hand fractures are:

Boxer’s fracture

This is a fracture that occurs in the metacarpal of the ring or little finger. The break happens at the end of the bone closest to the knuckle which is called a metacarpal neck. This type of fracture usually happens when someone punches a hard surface with their fist. A boxer’s fracture can also be diagnosed in someone who has suffered a fall and broke their fall with a closed fist hitting the ground.

How do they happen

Fractures happen when a force is applied to a bone that is strong enough to cause it to break. Most fractures happen under the following circumstances:

Sporting accident
Fall
Crushing
Road accident
Fighting

Treatment

It is important to seek medical advice as soon as possible if you think you have fractured your hand.

This is because when a break happens, the joint pieces are mobile and can easily be moved back into place.

The treatment of a hand fracture depends on the location and type of fracture. To determine this, you will have an x-ray of your injury and your doctor will then discuss with you how they will treat the fracture.

Many hand fractures can be treated non-surgically, a plaster cast will be applied so your hand can rest and using a sling will help elevate it to help reduce any swelling. Removing any watches, jewellery or rings on your injured hand is also advised.

Moving your fingers regularly whilst your fracture is healing is important to prevent stiffness in your finger joints.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment is sometimes recommended to fix a fracture where your surgeon will need to use pins, plates, rods, or screws to hold your bones in place whilst they heal. Surgery is often advised with the following fractures:

An open (compound) fracture
Loose bone fragments
Fractures that extend into a joint
A fracture where the bone has moved before it has healed
Damage to the surrounding ligaments, nerves, or blood vessels

There are different types of surgery to fix a hand fracture, your surgeon will discuss the options with you and advise the best treatment for you.

Surgery is recommended where the surgeon has to reduce the fracture and manipulate the hand back into place. Your surgeon will splint your hand or use thin wires which are inserted through the skin and positioned across the fracture to hold it in place.

Alternatively, your surgeon may have to make an incision in the skin to expose the fracture so the surgeon can reduce the fracture by having a full view of it, and will use pins, screws, or plates to hold it in place.

Your hand will be placed in a plaster cast after surgery to aid healing.

Recovery

It will take 6 weeks for the bone to heal after surgery, and another 6 weeks for the bone to become as strong as it was before the injury. Some injuries will take longer to heal if they are more complex and have damaged surrounding ligaments as well. Some people find that it can take between 6 and 12 months for them to regain normal function in their hands.

You may experience some pain and swelling after surgery, which is normal but keeping your hand raised above heart level is advised. You may use a sling during the day but moving your shoulder and elbow regularly will help reduce any stiffness. Painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen will also help manage any pain and swelling any pain and swelling.

Whilst you are recovering, it is important that you keep your cast dry, use a plastic bag to cover it when you bath or shower, only use your affected hand for light duties, do not pick up any heavy items and do not drive.

To reduce the risk of infection, keep the wound clean and dry and finish the course of antibiotics if your surgeon has prescribed them.

Your surgeon will refer you to a hand therapist, 6 weeks after your operation. The hand therapist will remove your plaster and begin rehabilitation exercises on your hand to further aid recovery and restore normal function.

Whatever your hand or wrist condition is, we can help.

Mr Randeep Mohil provides clinics across Lancashire and Cheshire.

Please call us on 01625 466158 or email info@northwesthandsurgeon.co.uk

Get in touch

Lancashire Clinics

The Beardwood Hospital, Blackburn
Clinic days: Monday evenings (alternate) and Thursday mornings
Website: The Beardwood Hospital
Ramsay Fulwood Hospital, Preston
Clinic days: Monday and Tuesday evenings (alternate)
Website: Ramsay Fulwood Hall

Ramsay Euxton Hall Hospital, Chorley Clinic days: Tuesday evenings (alternate) Website:Ramsay Euxton Hall

Cheshire Clinic, Northwich Clinic days: Friday morning (alternate) Website: The Cheshire Clinic

Call

Email

Hand Fractures

What is a hand fracture?

Commonly seen types of hand fractures are:

Boxer’s fracture

How do they happen

Treatment

Surgical treatment

Recovery

Whatever your hand or wrist condition is, we can help.

Get in touch