A fracture is any break in a bone. They can be small hairline fractures or big open fractures (when a bone pierces the skin). They cause pain and swelling, and can even limit your hand and wrist range of motion.
These injuries can happen in a variety of ways. Hand fractures can happen in your finger bones or the longer bones inside your hand. Wrist fractures are most likely to happen in the distal radius, which is the very end of the main bone in the forearm. Another type of fracture, though less common, is the scaphoid fracture, or a fracture of the bone at the base of the thumb. These fractures are often difficult to find. Both types of wrist fractures most commonly happen from falling onto an outstretched hand, which is why if you're falling, trying to catch yourself with a hand is not the best idea.
The name of the game when it comes to fractures is time and TLC. Fractures generally heal on their own. Sometimes you may need a treatment called reduction, which is when a doctor repositions your bones the way they were before the break. This helps the bones heal more safely and with minimal long-term effects, if any. Sometimes reduction is surgical and requires the use of internal hardware, like pins, screws, and plates.
Fractures need about six weeks to fully heal. Elevation can help, and your doctor may give you medicine to take. Do not remove a splint unless your doctor has told you to, and if you have a cast, wrap it in a plastic bag when bathing or showering. If you think you may have fractured any part of your body, see a doctor for instructions and help to start the road toward healing.
Visit the hand surgeons at McLean County Orthopedics for treatment if you have a fracture in your wrist or hand.
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