One of the most important of the five senses is the sense of touch, and our hands make that possible. Without the use of fingers or hands, the ability to perform everyday tasks is greatly diminished. Like all other parts of the body, the hand is subject to injury. The bones in the hand are subject to fracture or breaks. At the offices of Boston Sports & Shoulder Center, we offer the latest methods of care to treat hand fractures, working to restore it to full function and mobility for patients.
Since our hands are typically the first point of contact with the tactile world, they are subject to all kinds of fracture risks including falls, a crush injury, a twisting injury, or through direct contact in sports.
Signs and symptoms of a hand fracture can include swelling, bruising, tenderness or pain, deformity, and an inability to move the finger or hand. Imaging tests such as X-rays can pinpoint the location and extent of the injury and, after careful diagnosis, non-surgical and surgical treatment options may be recommended.
Nonsurgical Treatment: If a fracture does not line up in an acceptable position, we can realign the bone fragments by gently manipulating them back into position without making an incision. A cast, splint or brace may be applied to keep the bones in correct alignment while they heal. The cast may extend from your fingertips almost to your elbow to support the bones properly.
Surgical Treatment: Some hand fractures require surgery to realign and stabilize the fracture fragments. This includes open fractures in which pieces of bone have broken through the skin. We will make an incision to help reposition the bone fragments into their normal alignment. Small metal devices—such as wires, screws, pins, staples, and plates—may be used to hold the pieces of fractured bone in place.
COMMITTED TO BONE HEALTH AND STRENGTH
At the office of Boston Sports & Shoulder Center, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate orthopedic care. For more information on our office and the many services we provide, give us a call today.