Symptoms
Hand fractures cause:
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Difficulty in moving the hand, fingers, or wrist
- Deformed fingers or hands
Causes & Prevention
Hand fractures are generally caused by and may be prevented by avoiding these types of injuries:
- Falls
- Crushing
- Direct contact in sports
- Twisting
Diagnosis and Tests
A healthcare provider can do an exam to check for pain, loss of feeling, ability to move fingers or the hand, and position of the bones in the hand. X-rays help identify the location and severity of hand fractures.
Treatments
Most hand fractures heal without surgery. A cast, brace, bandage, or splint may be used to hold the bones in the right place and protect them. Sometimes, gentle exercises may help improve the healing process.
For more serious hand fractures, surgery may be needed to place broken bones in the correct position and hold them in place during the healing process. A surgeon may use screws, metal plates, or wires to hold everything together.