Broken thumb symptoms include swelling, bruising, sensitivity to the touch, and decreased range of motion. Some patients also report numbness or feelings of cold around the injury. In some cases, the hand or fingers may change colors, becoming pale or even blue, after a fracture of the hand. Patients may also notice other tactile sensations, such as tingling. Scaphoid fractures are the most common injuries involving the eight small carpal bones along the base of the wrist. Scaphoid fracture symptoms include pain, swelling, and sensitivity to touch.
Pain symptoms may increase as the individual makes a fist or closes the hand. However, just because a person is still capable of making a fist or using the digits with minimal discomfort does not mean he or she has not suffered a broken hand or finger. Prompt medical attention is necessary to prevent further injury and help expedite the recovery process.
Accurate diagnosis of the extent of the damage will require a physical examination and potentially the use of diagnostic imaging tests. After these tests, your doctor will recommend appropriate broken hand treatment options. There are many broken hand treatment options to address broken fingers, broken metacarpals, and other hand injuries.
In some instances, patients may need to wear larger casts to immobilize the entire hand or wrist. These splints and casts hold the bones in place, allowing the area to heal, while also minimizing the risk of reinjury during the recovery process.
In the event of misalignment, the overseeing medical professional may need to manually reposition the finger before utilizing a splint or cast. These noninvasive treatments are viable for most situations, but in the case of more severe injuries, your doctor may recommend surgical intervention for optimal results and recovery. Fractures that cannot be properly corrected with the aforementioned treatment strategies will require broken hand surgery.
During hand fracture surgery, local or general anesthesia may be used depending on the specific surgery. Broken hand surgery may involve the use of small pins and wires that will hold the fractured bones in place for several weeks.
In some instances, metal plates and screws may be utilized to ensure the bones of the hand are properly aligned. A bone graft may also be used to treat a bone that has not healed properly after a previous injury. Most patients should expect to have a follow-up appointment with their doctor within a week or two of the procedure.
During the recovery process, the overseeing medical professional may use intermittent imaging tests to make sure the bones are healing properly.
Pain and swelling are to be expected after surgery, and your doctor may prescribe medication to help. Over-the-counter pain medications can also be used to treat pain, discomfort, and swelling. Ideally, the hand should be kept higher than the heart, meaning the patient may need to prop it up while seated or lying down. Ice packs may also be used to help with pain and swelling. When using this method, a towel should be kept between the ice packs and the skin, to prevent direct contact and reduce the risk of frostbite.
Additional procedures may be required to remove hardware used to hold the bones in place during the healing process. Fractures and dislocations of the hand. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; chap Updated by: C. Editorial team. Hand fracture - aftercare. Types of Hand Fractures.
Your fracture may be in one of the following areas on your hand: On your knuckle Just below your knuckle sometimes called a boxer's fracture In the shaft or middle part of the bone At the base of the bone, near your wrist A displaced fracture this means part of the bone is not in its normal position If you have a bad break, you may be referred to a bone doctor orthopedic surgeon. Some fractures require surgery. You will likely be referred to an orthopedic surgeon if: Your metacarpal bones are broken and shifted out of place Your fingers do not line up correctly Your fracture nearly went through the skin Your fracture went through the skin Your pain is severe or becoming worse.
Self-care at Home. You may have pain and swelling for 1 or 2 weeks. To reduce this: Apply an ice pack to the injured area of your hand. To prevent skin injury from the coldness of the ice, wrap the ice pack in a clean cloth before applying. Keep your hand raised above your heart. Talk with your provider before using these medicines if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or have had stomach ulcers or internal bleeding in the past.
Do not take more than the amount recommended on the bottle or by your provider. Do not give aspirin to children. When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Care Instructions A hand can break fracture during sports, a fall, or a car crash.
How can you care for yourself at home? Put ice or a cold pack on your hand for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days when you are awake. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your cast or splint. Keep your cast or splint dry. Follow the cast care instructions your doctor gives you. If you have a splint, do not take it off unless your doctor tells you to. Take pain medicines exactly as directed. If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine. Prop up your hand on pillows when you sit or lie down in the first few days after the injury. Keep your hand higher than the level of your heart.
0コメント