Hand Fractures and What To Do About Them

Hand Fractures 

A hand fracture is a break in one of the bones in the hand. This includes the small bones of the fingers (phalanges) and the long bones within the palm (metacarpals). A broken hand can be caused by a fall, crush injury, twisting injury, or through direct contact in sports. 

In most cases, a hand fracture will heal well with nonsurgical treatment. Depending on the type and location of the fracture, this may include wearing a cast, splint or buddy straps for a period of time. For more serious fractures or for fractures that do not line up properly, however, surgery may be required to realign the broken pieces of bone. 

Anatomy 

The bones in your hand include: 

• Phalanges. These are the small bones that form the thumb and fingers. There are two phalanges in the thumb and three in each of the fingers. 
• Metacarpals. These are the five bones that are located in the palm of the hand. 

Symptoms 

Signs and symptoms of a hand fracture may include: 

• Swelling 
• Bruising 
• Tenderness or pain 
• Deformity 
• Inability to move the finger 
• Shortened finger 
• The injured finger crosses or “scissors” over its neighbor when making a partial fist 

Doctor Examination 

Physical Examination 

Dr. Khurana will ask about your symptoms and perform a careful examination of your fingers and hand. During the exam, she may look for: 

• Swelling or bruising 
• Deformity 
• Overlapping of your fingers 
• Cuts or lacerations to the skin around the injury 
• Limited range of motion 
• Joint stability 
• Numbness in your fingers, a sign of possible nerve damage 

X-rays 

X-rays provide images of dense structures, such as bone. The team at Perimeter Orthopaedics may order one or more x-rays to help identify the location and extent of the fracture. 

Surgical Treatment 

Some hand fractures require surgery to realign and stabilize the fracture fragments. This includes open fractures in which pieces of bone have broken through the skin. 

During surgery, Dr. Khurana will reposition the bone fragments into their normal alignment. Small metal devices—such as wires, screws, pins, staples, and plates—may be used to hold the pieces of fractured bone in place. 

After surgery, you may have to wear a splint or cast for a period of time in order to protect the fracture. 

Appointments 

Overall, high-quality orthopedic care is invaluable. It helps people, like you, reclaim their quality of life and get back to doing the things they love. 

Dr. Khurana specializes in diagnosing and treating problems of the hand, wrist and forearm, including fractures, nerve and tendon problems, sports injuries, congenital limb problems, joint instability, degenerative conditions of the wrist and elbow and small joint replacement. 

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Khurana and discuss treatment options in person or via telehealth, please call our Atlanta or Woodstock office.  

Atlanta: 5673 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd, Suite 825, Atlanta, GA 30342 

  404-255-5595  

Woodstock: 281 Heritage Walk, Woodstock, GA 30188  

  404-458-8859 

www.perimeterortho.com 

*Information gathered by AAOS – Orthopedic Hand Surgery  

Author

Lauren Mueller Marketing