Once the fracture has enough stability, motion exercises may be started to try to avoid stiffness. In this procedure, bone is taken from another part of the body to help provide more stability.įractures that have been set may be held in place by an “external fixator,” a set of metal bars outside the body attached to pins which are placed in the bone above and below the fracture site, in effect keeping it in traction until the bone heals. In such cases, a bone graft may be necessary. On occasion, bone may be missing or be so severely crushed that it cannot be repaired. Fractures that disrupt the joint surface (articular fractures) usually need to be set more precisely to restore the joint surface as smooth as possible. Once the bone fragments are set, they are held together with pins, plates, or screws (see Figure 2). Other fractures may need surgery to set the bone (open reduction). This is called closed reduction and internal fixation. Some displaced fractures may need to be set and then held in place with wires or pins without making an incision. Depending upon the type of fracture, your hand surgeon may recommend one of several treatment methods.Ī splint or cast may be used to treat a fracture that is not displaced, or to protect a fracture that has been set. Medical evaluation and X-rays are usually needed so that your doctor can tell if there is a fracture and to help determine the treatment. Fractures that involve joint surfaces may lead to early arthritis in those involved joints. Because of the close relationship of bones to ligaments and tendons, the hand may be stiff and weak after the fracture heals. Some fractures will cause an obvious deformity, such as a crooked finger, but many fractures do not. A fracture may cause pain, stiffness, and loss of movement. There is some risk of infection with compound fractures.įractures often take place in the hand. An open (compound) fracture occurs when a bone fragment breaks through the skin. Comminuted fractures (bone is shattered into many pieces) usually occur from a high energy force and are often unstable. Some fractures occur in the shaft (main body) of the bone, others break the joint surface. Other fractures are unstable and the bone fragments tend to displace or shift. Fractures may be simple with the bone pieces aligned and stable. Many people think that a fracture is different from a break, but they are the same (see Figure 1). When this happens, there is pain, swelling, and decreased use of the injured part. A fracture occurs when enough force is applied to a bone to break it.
This frame acts as a point of attachment for the muscles that make the wrist and fingers move. The hand is made up of many bones that form its supporting framework.
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