Recognize the symptoms, causes and treatment of fractures in the hand

A fracture or fracture is a condition when bones become cracked, broken, or broken. This broken bone can occur in any part of the body, including the hand area. The scope of the hand in question includes fractures in the fingers, wrists, elbows, to the upper arms (fractures of the humerus). To get to know this condition better, here is complete information about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of fractures in the hand area.

What are hand fractures?

A fracture in the hand, including the arm and elbow, is when one or more bones in the area break. In this area of ​​the bone, the types of fractures that occur can vary. Bone that is part of the movement system, may only be fractured or broken into several parts.

Pieces of bone may also be parallel or shift away from their normal position. In severe cases, broken bones can penetrate the skin causing bleeding (open fracture). This condition requires emergency medical care because of the risk of causing infection.

Types of fractures in the hand area

The bony structures along the length of the human hand and arm are made up of several parts. The following are types of fractures in the hand area based on their specific part or location:

• Broken hand

The bones of the human hand consist of the small bones in the fingers or the phalanges, and the long bones in the palms of the hands or the metacarpals. There are two phalanx bones in the thumb and three phalanx bones in the other four fingers. The metacarpal bone has five segments, each of which is connected with a finger above it.

Among these bones, the fifth metacarpal bone, which is the bone in the palm of the hand close to the little finger, is fractured most frequently. This condition is also known as a boxer or boxer fracture. The reason is, reported by OrthoInfo, this condition often occurs when someone punches a hard surface with their fists.

• Broken wrist

A wrist fracture is when the bones in the area break. The part of the bone in question, namely the carpal bone and the ends of the two bones in the forearm, namely the radius and ulna, are adjacent to the wrist.

This fracture at the end of the radius and ulna adjacent to the wrist is also known as a fracture of the distal radius and a fracture of the distal ulna. The distal radius fracture is the most common type of wrist fracture.

• Forearm fracture

The human forearm bone consists of two bones, namely the radius and ulna. A fracture in this area can occur at the lower end of the bone near the wrist (often called a wrist fracture), in the middle of the bone, or at the top end near the elbow.

Generally, fractures in the arm area will occur in both bones, namely the radius and ulna. However, a fracture can also occur in just one of the bones of the forearm, which is generally the ulna, due to a direct blow or impact to the area of ​​the bone when the arm is raised for self-defense.

• Broken bone in the elbow

A fracture in the elbow is a condition when one or more of the bones that make up the elbow is broken or fractured. In this section, the bone consists of the lower humerus (upper arm) near the elbow, the upper radius bone, and the olecranon bone (the upper end of the ulna bone).

The olecranon bone is the bone that protrudes at the elbow and can be easily felt under the skin because it is only covered by a thin layer of tissue.

• Upper arm fracture

Upper arm fracture, which is a fracture that occurs in the long bone that extends from the shoulder and scapula (shoulder blade) to the elbow. This type of bone is also known as the humerus. Humeral fractures can occur in the upper arm bone near the shoulder joint or in the middle.

Symptoms of fractures of the hands and arms

Symptoms of fractures, whether in the hand, wrist, arm (upper and lower), or in the elbow, can vary from patient to patient. However, common signs and symptoms include:

• Intense pain around the broken bone, which generally worsens when grasping, squeezing, or moving the hand or arm.
• Swelling, bruising, or tenderness around the broken bone.
• Visible bony deformities around the injury site, such as bent fingers, bent arms, or a protruding area around the elbow.
• Feeling stiff or inability to move fingers, wrists, shoulders, or rotate arms.
• Numbness in the hand, finger, or arm.

In severe cases, a broken hand can cause bleeding. This generally occurs when a broken bone breaks through the skin or is classified as an open fracture.

There are a variety of possible causes for hand and arm fractures

Common causes of fractures in the hands, upper and forearms, and elbows are injury or trauma from a direct impact or blow to those parts of the bone. Apart from direct blows, some common causes of fractures in the humerus, radius, ulna, and other types of fractures in the hand include:

• Fall with outstretched hands or arms.
• Sports injuries, such as being hit directly to the hand or arm.
• Accidents while driving, such as a motorcycle, car or bicycle.

Apart from common causes, wrist fractures can also occur due to an already brittle bone condition (osteoporosis). This condition is commonly experienced by the elderly and often fractures the distal radius from falling from a standing position.

The causes of arm fractures, both upper and lower, in children can occur due to cases of child abuse or abuse.

Factors that increase risk

Apart from the above causes, several factors are also said to increase a person's risk of developing fractures in the hands and arms. These risk factors, namely:

• Have certain diseases or disorders that weaken the bones.
• An athlete or who engages in contact sports and increases the risk of falling, such as football, rugby, hockey, boxing, etc.
• Smoke.
• Lack of calcium and vitamin D.

How to diagnose hand and arm fractures

To diagnose a fracture in your hand, your doctor will ask you how the injury occurred and what symptoms you have. Then, the doctor will perform a physical exam to see signs of a fracture in the area of ​​your hand, arm, or elbow.

If a fracture is suspected, the doctor will ask you to do imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis. Some of these imaging tests, namely:

• X-rays, to obtain images of bone structure and identify broken bones.
• CT scan test, to identify injuries to the soft tissues and blood vessels around the bones that cannot be obtained by X-rays.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test, which produces detailed images of bone and soft tissue, which X-rays do not get.

Treatment for hand and arm fractures

There are many treatment options that can be used to treat hand and arm fractures. The type of treatment to choose depends on many factors, such as the type of fracture, the patient's age and daily activity, and the patient and surgeon's preferences. However, in general, the treatment for fractures of the hand, wrist, arm (upper and lower), as well as in the elbow, is:

• Use of a cast or splint

A cast or splint is the most common treatment for fractures, including those in the hand area. The cast or splint works to reduce movement and keep the broken bone in the right position during the healing process.

Generally, casts or splints are used for fractures of the hand, wrist, arm, and elbow, which do not shift or shift only slightly. However, in finger fractures, a splint is used more often.

When splinting, the broken finger is usually tied with the uninjured finger nearby, to support the injured finger. After the splint or cast is in place, you may need a sling or arm sling to support the broken arm.

Before the cast or splint is applied, the doctor will first make sure that the broken bone is aligned or normal. If not, the doctor will realign the bones. In some conditions, you may need a sedative or local anesthetic while the doctor aligns your bones.

• Drugs

You will be prescribed several medications to help with the pain from a fracture in the area of ​​your hand and arm. Your doctor may recommend some over-the-counter pain relievers. However, if the pain is severe, you may need an opioid medication, such as codeine.

In addition, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) will also be given to help with pain and inflammation. However, this medication may also hinder the healing of your broken hand, especially if used long-term. Therefore, ask your doctor if you need this drug.

If you have an open fracture, you may be given antibiotics to prevent infection.

• Operation

If the fracture is very serious, you may need fracture surgery to place an internal fixation device, such as a plate, rod, or screw, to maintain the proper position of the bone while it heals.

This surgery may be needed if you have a fracture in your hand or arm with the following criteria:

• There is an open fracture.
• Loose bone fragments that can hit joints.
• Damage to surrounding ligaments, nerves, or blood vessels.
• Fracture extending to the joint.
• Are using a cast or splint, but the bone fragments move before they heal.

For fractures of the hand, wrist, and elbow, bone graft surgery may be needed to aid in the healing process. In addition, externally attached fixation devices are also possible for this type of wrist fracture, which is generally only temporary until other procedures can be performed.

• Therapy

Physical therapy or rehabilitation is urgently needed by patients with hand and arm fractures. In forearm fractures (humerus fracture) and forearm (radius and ulna), and elbow fractures, physical therapy is generally started once the cast, splint, or sling is in place.

This is to reduce stiffness in the hand area, including the arms, fingers, and shoulders during the healing process. Once the cast, splint, or sling is removed, the doctor will recommend additional physical therapy to strengthen muscles, increase range of motion, and restore joint flexibility.

For wrist fractures, physical therapy or rehabilitation is generally performed after the cast or splint is removed. This is at the same time to help reduce stiffness and restore muscle strength and joint flexibility.

How long does it take to heal a fracture in the hand?

In fact, broken bones can grow and put back together on their own. However, medical treatment is still needed to help the bones grow in the right position and avoid complications.

The length of time using tools or other medical procedures depends on the healing process itself. The healing process can vary from person to person, depending on the severity.

However, in general, the healing process for a fracture in the hand can take 3-6 weeks or more. After this time, your cast will probably be removed, but your activities will remain limited for 2-3 months until the bone has completely healed.

To speed up healing, you should be careful when you are on the move. You also need to avoid things that slow down healing, such as smoking. Don't forget to meet your nutritional needs by eating the recommended foods for hand fractures.