- Fractures of the metacarpal bones and fingers - symptoms
- Fractures of the metacarpals and fingers - treatment
Hand bones are divided into three groups: wrist bones, metacarpal bones and finger bones. The pasterns, or metacarpus, are the main part of the hand, made of five long bones: the shaft, the base, that is, the proximal end, and the head, that is, the distal end. The last bone part of the hands is the fingers. The most common fracture of the neck of the fifth metacarpal. We are talking then about a boxing fracture - it usually occurs as a result of a punch on a hard surface.
Fractures of the metacarpal bonesare not very common and mainly affect boxers. Other causes of metacarpal fractures may be various types of blows, falls, injuries sustained while practicing sports, being crushed by a heavy object, or being pinched by a door. A finger is much easier to break. We all have five types of hand fingers - thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger. They are made up of fourteen phalanges which are very susceptible to mechanical injuries. Bones may be breached during sports, falls or even a simple impact.
Fractures of the metacarpal bones and fingers - symptoms
After fracture of the metacarpal bones and fingers, painful swelling appears, often hematoma and bruising of the painful area appear. Sometimes the finger may become deformed, and the patient has difficulty moving the hand and fingers, and any kind of movement causes severe pain. There may also be a feeling of stiffness.
Fractures of the metacarpals and fingers - treatment
Fractures of the metacarpal bones and fingers require surgical treatment. After the surgery, rehabilitation is necessary to restore the hand's efficiency. Fractures without displacement can be treated conservatively by immobilization in a plaster cast. In turn, the metacarpal bones are often not only fractured, but also bruised, which are very painful, especially in the case of contusions in the area of the thumb and little finger. When additionally there are so-called stone hematomas (lesions around the pads), then a visit to the doctor is necessary, who punctures the bloody lesions, which speeds up healing. Sometimes there are bruises around the fingertips - then small hematomas appear under the nail plate. They often disappear on their own, but sometimes they get enlarged and lead to hand swelling. These types of bruises are treated surgically. The doctor removes the hematoma throughmaking a small hole in the nail plate.