Hand fracture: why it is important to treat it
Written by:
Published: 07/06/2017
Edited by: Top Doctors®
Hand fractures or fractures of the bones of the hand occur after a trauma to one of the bones that make up the hand; Ie, fingers, carp and wrist.
Types of hand fractures by location
Within the hand fracture there are:
- Fractures in the fingers , phalanges and metacarpals.
- Fractures of carpal bones , ie, scaphoid, lunate, large bone, pyramidal, pisiform, trapezoid and trapezoid.
- Fractures of the wrist, affecting the distal end of radius and ulna.
Treatment of the fracture of the hand
In most cases hand fractures can be treated by plaster. However, at times, and depending on the degree of displacement , involvement of a joint surface may require surgery.
When surgery is needed to treat a hand fracture
Nowadays, thanks to technological advances, specialists in Traumatology have many options of minimally invasive surgery: arthroscopy, percutaneous stabilization ... This allows a correct stabilization of the fracture (osteosynthesis), while reducing the recovery time, achieving a Incorporation into life (work, sports ...) in the short term.
Consequences of poorly healed or treated hand fracture
Because of the specificity of hand functionality, poor correction of a fracture can lead to loss of precision when performing fine movements, such as writing, playing an instrument or performing crafts, and even discomfort in sports activities (tennis, paddle or basketball). In addition, we should not forget that poor joint correction will lead, in a relatively short future, to osteoarthritis (destruction of the joint surface), causing chronic pain and loss of mobility.
