No one is immune from injuries, including serious ones. At the same time, ordinary people cannot always determine the severity of the damage received, which is very important for timely treatment. A fracture of the hand is no exception, as sometimes the victim does not realize that the bone is broken. For this reason, it is important to study the key symptoms of a fracture.
The core of the problem
In winter or with an active lifestyle, strong falls with an emphasis on the brush are not ruled out. Also, this area of the hand can be de alt a tangible blow, for example, in production.
With such types of impact, a fracture of the hand is not excluded.
This type of injury can take three forms:
- fractures of metacarpal bones;
- phalanges (most common);
- wrist bones.
It is impossible to ignore the fact that a fracture is sometimes accompanied by displacement, which is fraught with additional complications, therefore, with any impact on the hand that caused severe pain, you need to see a doctor.
Disease classification
Perhaps not everyone knows about it, but in the field of medicine there is an international classification of diseases. In this data system, each disease and itsvarieties are assigned a specific code, which is indicated by a number and letters.
In the ICD, a fracture of the hand is placed under S00-T98 (subcategories 60 to 69), which deals with injuries, poisoning and other consequences of external influences. In this part of the international classification, all current types of fractures that injure the hand and wrist (first and second metacarpal bones, thumb, multiple injuries, etc.) are recorded.
Using these data, you can accurately determine the specific type of fracture and make a competent, accurate diagnosis.
Symptoms
It's hard not to notice a fracture of the bones of the hand, but still we will name certain signs that will not allow us to confuse it with a bruise.
First of all, it is worth identifying the main symptoms:
- when you try to straighten your fingers, severe pain appears;
- a noticeable swelling forms on the back side;
- if a severe injury has been received, the general condition of the victim may worsen;
- deformation is noticeable in the brush area.
In this case, the skin acquires a bluish tint, and pain can be felt not only when the fingers are extended, but also during any, even minor, movements.
Scaphoid and metacarpal bones
After damage to these components of the hand, some time later, the swelling that appears will make any movement problematic. If the heads of the metacarpal bones were broken, then swelling and deformity will appear on the back of the palm, directly at the site of damage.
Herea wrist fracture in the navicular region can lead to additional complications in addition to the main consequences of the injury. Most often, such damage is the result of a fall, during which the victim focused on the palm of his hand. As a result, pain occurs at the base of the hand from the side of the thumb. In this case, the pain can be described as aching, constant, with low intensity. There is no deformation with such an injury, and the swelling, although it appears, is insignificant. Therein lies the crux of the problem.
When the victim after the fall does not feel severe pain and does not observe signs of hand deformity, he remains far from realizing that a fracture has occurred. As a result, everything can come down to self-treatment without professional diagnostics and the help of qualified doctors. In some cases, the victim decides to visit the doctor after a few months from the moment when the fracture of the hand was received. Injuries to bones other than the navicular and metacarpal are extremely rare.
It is worth knowing that fractures and bruises have several common symptoms: swelling and sharp or aching pain. Therefore, after a fall or other external influence, you should in any case visit the hospital.
If a displaced fracture of the hand was recorded, then, most likely, surgery will be required, namely osteosynthesis and reposition. This fact once again emphasizes the need for timely diagnosis.
Features of children's fractures
Initially, you should pay attention to the fact thatthere are significantly more organic compounds in children's bones than in adults. As a consequence, the shell that protects the bones (periosteum) also has better hardness and elasticity. These characteristics allow children to handle a broken hand differently.
This is different from adult injuries as follows:
1. In patients of the younger age group after an injury, self-correction of the residual displacement is possible. This ability is explained by the active functioning of the muscles and the rapid growth of bone tissue.
2. Tissues and damaged structures in children recover much faster and easier than in adults due to the accelerated appearance of bone calluses and a high level of periosteal blood circulation.
3. Children's fractures are also different in that the injury is more like bending or breaking the bone. For the same reason, the displacement of fragments remains insignificant.
In such an injury, the child will cry and be in a visibly agitated state. Otherwise, the hand after a fracture in children has the same changes as in adults (swelling, loss of mobility, deformity, pain, swelling, etc.).
Obviously, it is easier to recover a child's body after an injury, but this does not mean that one can take the issue of treatment lightly. The participation of doctors in this case is mandatory, and as soon as possible.
First Aid
If signs of a fracture appear after an injury, you need to be prepared to perform severalsimple but important actions.
First of all, it is important that the victim takes an anesthetic, after which his hand will have to be fixed. Such actions will protect the injured area from additional damage due to arbitrary movements. When dealing with an open fracture, the first task to be done is to stop the bleeding, and quickly.
The next important step is to remove any jewelry from the damaged brush. Such measures are due to a possible mechanical disturbance of blood circulation from the pressure of rings or bracelets. In addition, when swelling appears, it will be much more difficult to remove jewelry.
If there is a broken finger, you need to apply cold to the damaged area and thereby slow down the appearance of edema. This action will also reduce pain.
Diagnosis
To determine the features of the injury, you must first contact a traumatologist, who will find out the causes of the injury from the patient, examine the hand and, after palpation, send it for an x-ray examination.
The last method, by the way, is extremely important, because it allows you to differentiate a fracture of the hand from a dislocation or injury to the radius. The bottom line is that the upper row of the bones of the wrist is connected to the radial joint, if damaged, pain can radiate to the hand.
In such a situation, it will be extremely problematic to accurately determine the area of the lesion without radiography. Based on this information, an obvious conclusion can be drawn: to be treated at home afterany injury to the hand, and even more so to the hand, is a serious mistake.
Treatment
In the vast majority of cases, surgery for a hand injury is not required. For more efficient and faster recovery, fragments of the affected bone are fixed with a bandage, which often reaches the elbow.
7 days after such fixation, an x-ray of the hand is taken. This makes it possible to determine how the damaged area grows together. The bandage is usually removed after 4-5 weeks.
If a finger (one phalanx) was broken without displacement, splint placement will be used as a restorative measure.
In the case when you have to deal with a fracture of the first metacarpal bone, the fragments are repositioned, and within two days from the moment of injury. Gypsum, pins and knitting needles can be used for fixation. For injuries without displacement of other metacarpal bones, a cast will suffice after reposition.
As for the fracture of the navicular bone, its treatment is the most difficult. In most cases, gypsum is fine for fixation, but not always. It is worth noting that it becomes much more difficult to treat such an injury if the fracture line runs along the body of the bone. In this case, the recovery may be delayed for six months.
If you have to treat a finger, then only the damaged phalanx is fixed, and for a minimum period. In this case, the position of the finger remains half-bent.
Sometimes a more severe fracture needs to be treated. Brush offset, for example, cangreatly complicate the recovery process. The most effective method of exposure in this case is open or closed reposition. Another complicating factor may be an open fracture, which is treated with surgery, or rather, skin grafting.
Recovery
Many patients want to know if the hand will retain its functionality after a fracture and subsequent recovery. The result largely depends on the actions of the victims themselves. In order for the bones to become as mobile again as before the injury, they need to be constantly developed. But it makes sense to start such activity only after the doctor confirms that the bone has healed.
It is better to start the recovery process with light exercises (flexion-extension, rotation of the palm, etc.). Sharp movements are contraindicated. It takes a few weeks to do. In some cases, for a full recovery, you will have to work hard on the condition of the brush for six months.
At the same time, any amateur performance should be excluded - all exercises, as well as their intensity and duration, must be agreed with the attending physician.
Results
A wrist fracture is a very unpleasant injury that significantly complicates the life of the victim. But this problem can be overcome if you immediately contact the doctors and begin qualified treatment.
