Hand Fractures
Hand Fracture Treatment in Dallas
Bones, despite their strength, can fracture or break if subjected to excessive pressure or force. In medical terms, a broken bone is referred to as a fracture. Long-term traumas, excessive stress, and bone-weakening illnesses like Osteoporosis or tumors are the most prevalent causes of fractures. Fractures can range in severity from a little crack to a shattered bone in numerous pieces. Simple fractures may simply need splinting or casting. More complicated fractures may require fracture surgery to straighten the bones so that they heal properly.
At SPORT, we utilize state-of-the-art Dallas physical therapy and surgical techniques to get our patients back to their active lifestyles. Our highly skilled orthopedic and sports medicine doctors commit themselves day in and day out to ensuring quick, lasting recovery. Let us help you get back into the game. Schedule an appointment in Dallas or Frisco by calling 469-200-2832 today.
You can also get fast, affordable care at our Dallas orthopedic urgent care facilities. We provide faster service than regular urgent care offices at more affordable prices than emergency rooms. If you’re hurt today, we can see you today at SPORT Orthopedics + Physical Therapy.
Hand Fracture Symptoms
A hand fracture, or broken hand, often displays the following symptoms.
- Severe pain that worsens while gripping an object, or squeezing or moving the hand
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Bruising
- Deformities, such as crooked fingers
- Stiffness in the hand or an inability to move the fingers or thumb
- Numbness in the hand
- Bumps on fingers or wrists
If you experience numbness, swelling, or problems moving your fingers, you should visit a doctor right away if you suspect you have a fractured hand. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can result in sluggish healing, reduced range of motion, and reduced grip strength.
How Do I Know If My Hand Is Fractured?
Accidents happen, whether it’s a rug slip, a sidewalk misstep, or a soccer pitch spill. How can you tell whether something is serious? Because broken bones (fractures), sprains, and strains often have similar symptoms, figuring out the truth on your own can be difficult.
The best course of action to take after sustaining an injury is to see a doctor as soon as possible. Even if the pain is mild at first, it can quickly worsen, especially in the case of a hand fracture. Our hands are essential to almost every daily task. Thus, we like to either confirm or rule out a break with imaging tests, like X-rays. The sooner we diagnose you, the sooner we can proceed with your hand fracture treatment.
Hand Fracture Causes
A fall, a crush injury, a twisting injury, or sports contact can all result in fractures. They can occur anywhere along the bone’s shaft or at the joint’s surface.
When the fragments of bone are aligned and stable, a simple fracture develops. Other forms of hand fractures might be unstable, causing the fragments to separate. Comminuted fractures are unstable because they are made up of numerous tiny fragments. When a bone fragment bursts through the skin, it is called an open or complex fracture. An open fracture carries an increased risk of infection.
Types of Hand Fractures
There are several types of hand fractures that we see. Below, we list five of them.
- Stable: The fractured ends of the bone are almost perfectly aligned.
- Open, compound: The skin might be punctured by the bone or broken by a blow at the moment of the fracture. In the wound, the bone may or may not be visible.
- Transverse: The fracture line in this type of fracture is horizontal.
- Oblique: The pattern of this sort of fracture is angled.
- Comminuted: In this type, the bone basically shatters into three or more fragments.
Below, we list several conditions stemming from a hand fracture.
- Boxer’s fracture
- Colles fracture
- Distal radial fracture
- Finger fracture
- Skier’s thumb
- Bennett’s fracture
Hand Fracture Treatment
Hand fracture treatment, depending on the severity of the injury, can involve both nonsurgical and surgical treatments.
Nonsurgical Treatment
If a fracture does not line up in an appropriate position, your doctor may typically realign the bone pieces without requiring an incision by gently moving them back into place. A closed reduction is the name for this method. To keep the bones in proper alignment while they recover, a cast, splint, or brace may be used. To adequately support the bones, the cast may stretch from your fingertips almost to your elbow.
About 1 to 2 weeks later, your doctor will most likely request a second series of x-rays. This is done to make sure the bones recover in the correct place.
You may need to wear the cast for 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the location and stability of the fracture. Wearing a detachable splint or being “buddy strapped” to a nearby non-injured finger can help prevent some types of fractures. The damaged finger is supported by the non-affected finger, which functions as a “moving splint.”
Surgical Treatment
The fracture fragments in certain hand fractures require surgery to realign and stabilize them. Open fractures are those in which bone fragments have broken through the skin. To assist realign the bone pieces into their proper alignment, your doctor will create an incision. Wires, screws, pins, staples, and plates are examples of small metal devices that can be used to keep broken bone fragments in place.
To preserve the fracture after surgery, you may need to wear a splint or cast for a period of time. Your finger may lose some function if the bone shifts while healing. After surgery, your doctor will discuss when it is safe to begin range-of-motion exercises and resume normal activities with you.
Can a Hand Fracture Heal on Its Own?
It is possible for a fractured hand to heal on its own. However, if it is not treated properly, it is more likely to heal improperly. The bones, in particular, may not line up properly. This is referred to as a malunion. It might obstruct your hand’s natural function, making it harder to carry out regular tasks. You’ll require surgery to straighten your bones if they’re misaligned. This can make the healing process even longer, so it’s critical to get the appropriate therapy immediately away.
How Do You Treat a Fractured Hand?
If you suspect you have a fractured hand, get medical attention right away. However, until you can get treatment, there are certain things you can do to take care of your hand. These include the first-aid procedures listed below.
- Avoid moving the affected hand. Make every effort to keep your hand still. Do not attempt to straighten a bone that has migrated out of position.
- Apply ice. Apply an ice pack or cold compress to your injuries to decrease pain and swelling. Always cover the ice pack in a clean towel or cloth before using it.
- Stop any bleeding.
The objective of fractured bone first aid is to keep the injury from getting worse. It can also assist in reducing discomfort and improving your recovery prospects. If you’re bleeding, you’ve probably got an open fracture, which means a bone is protruding. In this situation, get to the ER as soon as possible. You can halt the bleeding until help arrives by applying pressure and using a clean towel or bandage.
How Long Does a Fractured Hand Take to Heal?
Most patients may return to their usual activities, including sports, after 6 to 8 weeks if there are no problems. When the damage or fracture is serious, requiring considerable rehabilitation to restore function, or if there are problems, the whole healing period for a broken hand may take longer. Below, we list some complications that might occur during hand fracture treatment.
- Stiffness. Exercises and physical therapy can help you restore full range of motion and avoid impairment or loss of function.
- Osteomyelitis is a kind of bone infection that is common after surgical fracture treatment.
- Inability to heal (nonunion). Your doctor may suggest surgery if the bone does not heal adequately.
- Blood vessels and nerves are damaged. It’s possible that damage to the blood vessels or nerves has caused your hand or fingers to feel numb or have poor blood circulation. For diagnosis and treatment planning, you may require further imaging (such as an MRI) as well as muscle and nerve tests.
- A kind of osteoarthritis that develops after an accident is known as post-traumatic arthritis. This type of arthritis can develop months after an accident and eventually become chronic.
Contact SPORT Today for Hand Fracture Treatment in Dallas & Frisco
At SPORT Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, we have one priority: YOU. What matters to our team of trained professionals is YOUR recovery and YOUR comfort. If you suffered a hand fracture and need hand fracture treatment as soon as possible, we’re happy to help. To schedule an appointment with the best orthopedic surgeons in Dallas, please call our office at 469-200-2832 today.
