Hand Fractures

Fractures

Fractures of the hand are very common and are usually identified with pain and swelling. Post-injury, bruises may be present and the pain is prolonged. After some time, deformities may develop and thus the fracture becomes more obvious. It is usually the intra-articular fracture that requires immediate or early attention, but these fractures are usually missed because of very little deformity and bruising.

The correct treatment of fractures is important. There are fractures that are stable by nature and this can be treated with splint or plaster immobilization until union of the fracture. The more important fractures that need close attention are the unstable and the intra-articular fractures.

Unstable Fracture

Unstable fracture sometimes with immobilization can still result in deformity due to movement of the fracture and malunion of the fracture. This results in compromised hand or wrist function usually from loss of active range of motion and pain.

$Metacarpal fracture resulting in rotational deformity$ Metacarpal fracture resulting in rotational deformity

$Distal radius fracture resulting in deformity$ Distal radius fracture resulting in deformity

Intra-articular Fractures

Intra-articular fractures can have very little deformity sometimes but this type of injury will result in prolonged pain upon movement of the affected joint. Inaccurate reduction of the fracture resulting in a step-off at the articular surface may result in osteo-arthritis.

$Arthritis due to an untreated fracture$ Arthritis due to an untreated fracture