The total healing time depends on several factors, including: Your doctor might have you start gentle hand therapy after 3 weeks. To prevent hand injuries on the job: Look for hand threats prior to a mishap can take place. Broken hand treatment may include: Cast or splint immobilization , which is the most common treatment for simple and displaced fractures and typically lasts 3 to 6 weeks Surgery to reposition the bone pieces and put pins, screws, plates or wires in them to hold the bones in place. Fractured hand symptoms can be similar to those of sprained hand symptoms, but the treatment for broken hand injuries is very different to sprained hand injuries, which commonly just require a period of rest. Will I need to wear a cast? https://www.uptodate.com/home. In most cases, the experience can be … Fingers have the highest risk of injury of all the parts of the hand. This will help them determine the severity of your injury. If you’re looking for fractured or broken hand treatment, book an appointment today by filling out the form on this page. After your cast or splint is removed, you'll likely need rehabilitation exercises or physical therapy to reduce stiffness and restore movement in your hand. Know the treatment and exercise to gain strength and range of motion of wrist and hands following metacarpal fracture or broken hand. NSAIDs help decrease swelling and pain or fever. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. After the initial treatment for a broken hand, there may be varying degrees of discomfort. To diagnose a broken hand, a doctor will use several tests. Restricting the movement of a broken bone in your hand is critical to proper healing. All rights reserved. The most common type of fixation is internal, using surgery to place pins through, or wires around, various bones to hold everything in place.1 Fractures of the hand and fingers can also be treated without surgery as long as they can be held in proper alignment long enough to heal. Cast and splints: If the fracture is not displaced (meaning, it is in the proper position), a cast or splint will likely be sufficient for treating the fracture. To be diagnosed as a broken hand, the bone must be affected — one of the bones may be broken into multiple pieces, or several bones may be affected. What causes hand fractures and breaks? Treatment List for Broken hand The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Broken hand includes the following list. A Broken finger is quite a common phenomenon in contact sports but they also occur with other sporting incidences such as when skiing, skateboarding etc. A broken hand is a break or crack in one or more of the bones of your hand. In general, broken hand recovery takes 3 to 6 weeks. If you’re bleeding, you likely have an open fracture, meaning a bone is sticking out. It may also happen if a joint in your hand twists out of place. In this case, go to the ER right away. A doctor will have you get an X-ray. A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched or torn. National Institute for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. They can diagnose and treat your injury. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Treatment depends on which bone in your hand was broken and what kind of fracture you have. In most cases, a hand fracture will heal well with nonsurgical treatment. Fingers help us to stroke, grasp, and sense and relate with the environment. For pain, you can take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), aspirin, or … Treatment for a broken hand is typically covered by health insurance. Accessed April 20, 2017. These options might be necessary if you have: Even after reduction and immobilization with a cast or splint, your bones can shift. You might first seek treatment for a broken hand in an emergency room or urgent care clinic. This ensures that the bone heals correctly. Visit a doctor as soon as you think you’ve broken your hand. If you do not receive the correct treatment, you could develop a serious infection or a permanent deformity. You'll be advised to keep your hand above heart level as much as possible to reduce swelling and pain. Treatment options include: Immobilization limits unnecessary movement, which promotes proper healing. They might also examine the surrounding areas, like your wrist and arm. You may also be asked to continue therapy after your cast has been removed. This can prolong the recovery process even further, so it’s important to receive the right treatment from the start. The Scientific World Journal. It can also help the rule out other possible conditions, like a sprain. Petron DJ. Keep your hand raised above your heart. As you recover, take it easy and let your hand rest. Williams AA, et al. The sooner you get medical attention, the better your hand can heal. This injury is also known as a fractured hand. If you have a broken hand, a doctor is the best person to diagnose and treat it. Simple first aid, however, can help prevent further injury. This is the band of tissue that connects two bones in a joint. Don’t use your hands to wipe away debris in a machine; use a brush Metacarpal fracture can be termed as broken hand. You will also be given painkilling medicines for the pain. Whatever your treatment, it's important to move your fingers regularly while the fracture is healing to keep them from stiffening. https://www.uptodate.com/home. They’ll have you wear a cast, splint, or brace to keep your hand still. Immobilization. But without proper treatment, it’s more likely to heal incorrectly. Treatment for a broken arm or wrist When you get to hospital the affected arm will be placed in a splint to support it and stop any broken bones from moving out of position. © 2005-2021 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Accessed April 21, 2017. The cost could You have five metacarpals bones in your hand, one for each finger (1st is part of your thumb, the 2nd is part of your index finger, the 3rd is part of your middle finger, the 4th part of your ring finger and the 5th part of your pinky finger). Here are some of the best on the market…. Until you can get help, you can stop the bleeding by applying pressure and using a clean cloth or bandage. Broken Hand Prevention The large bulk of injuries can be avoided. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00012. If you have a broken hand, a doctor is the best person to diagnose and treat it. You will likely undergo a second set of X-rays about a week later to ensure that the broken hand bones have remained in the proper position. Was your hand bent backward or forward when the impact occurred? Ask your doctor if you can take them for pain relief. Make a donation. A fracture in which the bone pieces move before they heal, Loose bone fragments that could enter a joint, Damage to the surrounding ligaments, nerves or blood vessels, A description of your symptoms and how, where and when the injury occurred, Information about your and your family's medical histories, All the medications and dietary supplements you take, including doses. Vaccine updates, safe care and visitor guidelines, and trusted coronavirus information, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition, Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition, FREE book offer – Mayo Clinic Health Letter, New Year Special -  40% off – Mayo Clinic Diet Online. The major cause of a mid finger fracture and broken fingertip is a direct trauma or a direct fall on the finger. Here's how to apply one correctly. They’ll also recommend the appropriate dose and frequency. If your pain is severe, you might need an opioid medication, such as codeine. Broken Hand Treatment Self-Care at Home Generally, any hand injury—except for the most minor one—should be seen by a doctor. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Motor vehicle crashes can cause hand bones to break, sometimes into many pieces, and often require surgical repair.You may be at higher risk of a broken hand if you participate in contact sports like football or hockey, or if you have a condition in which bones become thinner and more fragile (osteoporosis).It's important to treat a broken hand as soon as possible. You’ll have to wear the cast, splint, or brace during the entire time. To do this, you'll likely need a splint or a cast. Specifically, the bones might not line up properly. A broken hand usually doesn’t require surgery. You may need metal screws or pins to keep your bones in place. Simple first aid, however, can help prevent further injury. Flavorless veggie patties are a thing of the past. Your hand is made up of 27 bones, including those … If the bones are misaligned, you’ll need surgery to realign them. NSAIDs can help with pain but might also hamper bone healing, especially if used long-term. It’s especially important to see a doctor if you have: A broken hand can heal by itself. There are a number of hand fracture types, some severe and some relatively minor; as there are many different bones in the hand that could be broken. Possible treatments of a broken hand include:1 1. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Learn about the many kinds of FOOSH (fallen onto on outstretched hand) injuries, as well as how they are treated and about the recovery process. Treatment of a broken hand (recovery) If the ends of a broken bone are not aligned correctly, then the doctor will have to adjust the pieces back into their correct positions. Metacarpal fracture occurs when one of the long bones get injured. You'll be advised to keep your hand above heart level as much as possible to reduce swelling and pain. 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