Hand fractures can involve a single broken bone or
several of them. When the bone next to the little finger is
broken, the injury is sometimes called a ""Boxer's fracture.''
This kind of damage is often seen in people who punch walls and
those who fight without boxing gloves. Healing of the broken
bone(s) usually takes 6 to 8 weeks. An x-ray will show when the
fracture has completely mended.
Causes
The usual cause is sudden impact
on the hand during a fall or accident. Boxer's fractures occur
when the hand hits something while closed into a
fist.
Signs/Symptoms
Likely symptoms include swelling,
pain, bruising, or bleeding in the injured part of the hand.
Your hand may feel weak, numb, or tingly. If the break pushes
some bones out of place, the hand may look misshapen. If you
scratched or tore some skin, you may need a tetanus
shot.
Care
Your doctor may order an x-ray.
You may also need a splint or a cast to keep the broken bone(s)
in place. Surgery may be required for a bad
fracture.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
To reduce swelling, keep the injured hand above the
level of your heart as much as
possible.
Apply ice to the injury for 15 to 20 minutes each
hour for the first 1 to 2 days. Put the ice in a plastic
bag and place a thin towel between the bag of ice and your
cast.
Move the fingers of your casted hand several times a
day. This will reduce swelling and keep the hand from
getting stiff.
If you have a plaster or fiberglass
cast:
Do not try to scratch the skin under the cast by
pushing a sharp or pointed object down the
cast.
Check the skin around the cast every day. You may
put lotion on any red or sore areas.
If your fiberglass cast gets a little wet, it can
be dried off with a hair dryer.
If you have a plaster splint:
Wear the splint until your doctor says you may take
it off or until your follow-up
examination.
You should loosen the elastic around the splint if
your fingers become numb or
tingling.
Do not push down or lean on any part of your cast or
splint. It may break.
Keep your cast or splint dry. To protect it during
bathing, cover it with a plastic bag secured with tape or a
loose rubber band. Do not lower the cast or splint into
water.
Always take your medicine exactly as directed. If you
feel it is not helping, call your
doctor.
If the doctor prescribes pain medicine that makes you
drowsy, don't drive. You also may use over-the-counter
medicines for pain. Take all medications exactly as
directed.
If you are given a tetanus shot, your arm may get
swollen, red, and warm to the touch at the site of the
shot. This is a normal reaction to the
medicine.
Call Your Doctor If...
Your cast gets damaged or
breaks.
You have really bad pain that does not go
away.
You have more swelling than you did before the cast
was put on.
The skin or fingernails of the casted hand turn blue
or grey, or feel cold or numb.
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