Hand fracture
About Hand fracture
A fracture is a broken bone. There are 27 bones in the hand and fractures are a common injury. If there is a loss of alignment with the fracture the bones will be put back in place and splinted. Sometimes surgery is needed to realign the bones and to place a screw or wire to stabilize the bones while they heal. Severe fractures may have an associated tendon, nerve or blood vessel injury. If the broken bone punctures the skin (open fracture) antibiotics will be needed to prevent an infection of the bone (osteomyelitis).Symptoms
Pain, swelling, bruising of the skin, a deformity of the hand, pain with movement, numbness of the fingers, inability to move the hand.Tests & Diagnostics
A history and physical exam will be done. An x-ray will confirm the diagnosis.OTC sleep aids and supportive treatments
Prescription medications
Conventional treatment summary
Some fractures can be treated by splinting the hand. Splinting keeps the broken edges of the bone from moving very much, and this helps the bone to heal. Badly fractured hands may need surgery to realign the bones or to repair damaged tendons, nerves or blood vessels. Sometimes a wire or screw must be placed to stabilize the bone while it heals. OTC pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve) can be used. Narcotic pain medications may be prescribed as well including: hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), tramadol and acetaminophen (Ultram), or oxycodone and acetaminophen (Endocet, Percocet). If the bone punctures the skin the injury will need to be cleaned very well and antibiotics may be given to prevent an infection.Medical specialties
Orthopedic Surgery · Hand Surgery
This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Hand fracture.