Overview
A broken hand is a break or crack in one or more of the bones of your hand. This injury can be caused by direct blows, falls, or motor vehicle crashes. It can lead to severe pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, and an obvious deformity like a crooked finger. Early treatment is important to minimize pain, stiffness, and ensure proper healing.
Understanding the disease
Symptoms
The symptoms of a broken hand include severe pain that might worsen when gripping or squeezing or moving your hand, swelling, tenderness, bruising, an obvious deformity such as a crooked finger, and stiffness or inability to move your fingers or thumb. If you also experience numbness in your hand or fingers, you should see a doctor immediately.
Risk Factors
The risk factors for developing a broken hand include participating in contact sports like football or hockey and having a condition in which bones become thinner and more fragile, such as osteoporosis. Other factors that may increase the risk of a broken hand include direct blows or falls, and motor vehicle crashes that cause hand bones to break, sometimes into many pieces, and often require surgical repair. Wearing protective gear, such as wrist guards, during high-risk activities can help reduce the risk of a broken hand.
Development
The various types of broken hands can develop due to a direct blow, a fall, or a crushing injury. In some cases, the bones might break from a motor vehicle crash, which may result in multiple pieces of the bone breaking. If not treated promptly, a broken hand may not heal in proper alignment, causing pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. Risk factors for a broken hand include participating in contact sports or having conditions like osteoporosis.
Assessment and Diagnosis
Triage
If you suspect a broken hand, you should see a doctor immediately, especially if you have numbness, swelling, or trouble moving your fingers. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor healing, decreased range of motion, and decreased grip strength.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a broken hand generally includes a physical exam of the affected hand and X-rays. Sometimes, other imaging tests can give your doctor more detail. These may include a CT scan or an MRI. The CT scan can uncover wrist fractures that X-rays miss, and MRIs can identify very small fractures and ligament injuries.
Management and Treatment
Complications
Potential complications of a broken hand include:
- Poor healing: If the bones do not heal properly, it may result in decreased range of motion and decreased grip strength.
- Improper alignment: Without proper treatment, the bones may not align correctly, leading to ongoing stiffness or disability.
- Osteoarthritis: Fractures that extend into a joint may cause arthritis in the future.
- Nerve or blood vessel damage: Trauma to the hand can injure adjacent nerves and blood vessels, leading to numbness or circulation problems. It is essential to seek prompt medical attention for a suspected broken hand and follow the recommended treatment plan to minimize the risk of these complications.
Home Remedies
It is important to seek prompt medical attention for a broken hand, as proper treatment and alignment are crucial for proper healing and minimizing pain and stiffness. Home remedies alone may not be sufficient for a broken hand, and recovery may be slower or less effective without professional intervention.
Treatment
Treatment for a broken hand typically involves immobilization, pain management, and physical therapy.