hand
fracture

Table of Contents

What are hand fractures?

A fracture is a crack or break in your bone. One of the most common causes of hand fractures is trying to catch yourself when you fall.

Your risk of having hand fractures increases if you participate in athletic activities, such as:

  • In-line skating
  • Horseback riding
  • Snowboarding or skiing
  • Football, hockey, soccer, or rugby
  • Jumping on a trampoline

Car accidents are also a leading cause of hand fractures.

What are the symptoms of a hand fracture?

If you have a hand fracture, it’s common to experience:

  • Bruising
  • Tenderness and swelling
  • Numbness in your hand or fingers
  • Hand or finger deformities like crooked fingers
  • Intense pain worsened by movement
  • Inability  to move your fingers or thumb
  • If you have a broken bone in your hand or wrist, contact Arizona Center for Hand to Shoulder Surgery immediately. Postponing treatment can increase your chances of long-term complications, like reduced hand strength and range of motion, blood vessel or nerve damage, and arthritis.

    How are hand fractures diagnosed and treated?

    Your orthopedic surgeon diagnoses your hand fracture with a physical examination and digital imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. They develop a personalized treatment plan based on the extent of your break.

    The most common treatments for hand fractures include:

    • Medication to reduce inflammation and pain
    • Immobilization to prevent movements of broken bones while they heal
    • Physical therapy to reduce stiffness and restore mobility


    Depending on the extent of your break, your doctor might also recommend surgical procedures. These often include removing loose bone fragments, treating fractures in your joint, or repairing an “open fracture” where your bone breaks through your skin. Your surgeon might also recommend surgical repair if ligaments, blood vessels, or nerves surrounding your hand fracture sustained damage.

    During hand surgery, your surgeon may use plates, screws, pins, or rods to secure your broken bones in place while they heal. Some hand fractures require bone grafts to encourage the recovery process.

    If you’re suffering from the symptoms of a hand fracture, contact Arizona Center for Hand to Shoulder Surgery for a consultation. Their caring staff will be honored to take care of you.

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