What Is a Fracture?
Fractures are the result of a crack or break in the bone. Because so many daily activities involve hand use, fractures suffered in the hands, forearm, or wrist can make even the simplest tasks difficult or impossible to perform. Many athletes, mechanics, postal workers, or other individuals whose job involves repeated stress on the hands are at an increased risk of experiencing these types of breaks. Children may also have a higher likelihood of suffering fractures in this area, due to the nature of child play and sports-related activities. An untreated fracture can cause loss of function in the affected body part over time, making it very important to seek care from an experienced hand surgeon as soon as an injury occurs or symptoms of a fracture start to develop.
Signs & Symptoms
Immediate pain and swelling are the most obvious symptoms of a fracture in the forearm, wrist, or hand. You may also notice a deformity or an inability to move or use the affected area. In general, the symptoms of a fracture may include:
- Severe pain
- Bruising
- Numbness
- Loss of motion
In some cases, the fingers, wrist, or forearm may appear “bent” if an individual suffers an unstable fracture—this means the fracture has caused bone pieces to move or shift into an improper location. The resulting irregular appearance can indicate the bone has broken.
Causes
The most common causes of fractures in the hand and upper extremities are falls, sports, and motor vehicle accidents. We often use our hands to catch ourselves as we fall and the resulting impact can stress the bones to the point of breaking. Similarly, sudden trauma resulting from car accidents, workplace injuries, or other direct blows commonly result in a fracture. Osteoporosis may also weaken the bones and increase the risk of a forearm, wrist, or hand fracture.
Treatment
Treatment for a bone fracture in the forearm, wrist, or hand can vary according to the severity of your injury, the nature of the break, and the needs of the patient. Many times, an X-ray or physical examination is used to diagnose a fracture and get a better idea of how the bone is broken. In general, fractures suffered in this area can be treated by:
- Wearing a cast, splint, or brace to encourage proper healing—this will hold the bones in place and prevent you from moving the hand, wrist, or forearm during your recovery period. Sometimes, the ends of the broken bones may need to be realigned first in a process called fracture reduction. In either case, the stability provided by a cast, splint, or brace can help the fracture heal without the need for surgery.
- Surgical care—when the bones are misaligned, crushed, splintered into multiple pieces, or appear through the skin, surgery may be required to restore the bones to the proper position. This procedure involves using pins, rods, screws, or plates to keep the fractured bones in place.
For both treatments, some physical hand therapy may be necessary after the bone heals to help the area regain strength, motion, and function. During your consultation, one of our reconstructive hand surgeons can examine the extent of your fracture and discuss a personalized treatment plan to meet your needs. When treated soon after injury, fractures in the hand and upper extremities often heal very well and full function can typically be restored. However, you will most likely require a few months of recovery time, depending on your unique rate of healing and physical demand.
