A hand fracture is a fracture or break of one or more hand bones. This wound can be caused by direct blows or falls. Car accidents can cause the bones of the hand to break, sometimes in multiple places, often requiring surgical repair.
The risk of fracturing your hand is higher if you play contact sports like football or hockey or if you have a disorder that makes your bones thinner and more brittle (osteoporosis).
It is essential to treat the hand fracture as soon as possible. Otherwise, the bones could knit together in the wrong alignment, affecting your ability to do everyday activities, like writing or buttoning a shirt. Prompt treatment also helps minimize pain and stiffness.
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Table of Contents
Symptoms
A broken hand can cause these signs and symptoms:
- Severe pain that may worsen when closing, squeezing or moving your hand
- Swelling
- Sensitivity
- bruises
When do you need to call a doctor?
If you think your hand might be broken, see a doctor immediately, especially if you have numbness, swelling, and difficulty moving your fingers. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can prevent the fracture from healing correctly, decrease range of motion, and reduce grip strength.
Causes
Fractures in the hands can be caused by a direct blow or a crush injury. Car accidents can cause the bones of the hand to break, sometimes in multiple places, often requiring surgical repair.
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Risk Factor’s – Hand Fracture
The risk of a broken hand fracture increases if you play sports such as football, soccer, rugby, or hockey. Osteoporosis, a bone-weakening disorder, also increases the risk of hand fracture.
Complications
Complications of a broken hand are infrequent but may include the following:
- Ongoing stiffness, pain, or disability. Stiffness, pain, or discomfort in the affected area usually goes away after the troupe is detached or surgery. Though, some people have everlasting stiffness or pain. Be persistent with your recovery and talk to your doctor about exercises that might help you or get a referral for a physical.
- Fractures that spread into a joint can cause stiffness years later. If your hand begins to hurt or swell a lot after a break, see your doctor for evaluation.
- Damage to nerves or blood vessels. Trauma to the hand can injure nearby nerves and blood vessels. Seek immediate care if you experience numbness or circulation problems.
Prevention
It is impossible to prevent unpredictable events that often cause a broken hand. Nonetheless, these tips may offer some protection.
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Strengthens the Bones – Hand Fracture
To build strong bones:
- Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
- Get plenty of weight-bearing exercises, such as brisk walking
- If you smoke, kick the habit
What to Expect – Hand Fracture
You will perhaps have to wear a splint. This will cover part of the fingers and both sides of the hand and wrist. Your healthcare provider will tell you how long you must wear your splint. Usually, it is for about three weeks.
Most fractures heal well. After healing, the knuckle may look different, or the finger may move differently when you close your hand.
Personal Care at Home
You will have pain and swelling for about 1 to 2 weeks. To reduce this:
- Apply an ice pack to the injured area of the hand. To prevent skin injury from icy cold, wrap the compress in a clean cloth before applying it.
- Keep your hand elevated above the level of your heart.
For pain, you can use ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), aspirin.
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