Hand and Wrist Dislocations and Fractures
Treatment of Hand and Wrist Dislocations and Fractures in Cincinnati
Hand and wrist dislocations and fractures are painful injuries that can happen to people of all ages and activity levels. It is important to seek prompt treatment for a broken or dislocated hand or wrist in order to ensure proper healing and preserve function. At the Clifton Hand Surgery Center, in partnership with TriHealth, our hand and wrist specialists can quickly diagnose a break or dislocation and provide effective treatment.
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Hand and Wrist Dislocations
Hand and wrist dislocations are rare, and are often suffered in conjunction with a broken bone. A dislocation is a type of joint injury that occurs when the bones connected to the joint are shifted from their normal positions. A dislocation can immobilize the affected joint, and this painful injury requires prompt medical attention.1
Common Hand and Wrist Fractures
Distal Radius Fracture
This is the most common form of a “broken wrist,” and occurs when there is a break in the distal radius (the section of the radius bone that connects to the wrist joint). A distal radius fracture is often caused by falling onto an outstretched arm, and may be more severe in patients who have osteoporosis.2
Scaphoid Fracture
A scaphoid fracture is a break that often occurs when a person attempts to brace themselves with a hand during a fall. This can result in a break to one of the small bones on the thumb side of the wrist.3
Hand Fractures
There are five bones located in the palm of the hand, in addition to the bones that make up the fingers and thumbs. The most common hand fractures occur in the bone that supports the little finger (the fifth metacarpal), though it is possible for any of the hand bones to break. Broken hands are often the result of a fall, a crush, excessive twisting, or a sports injury.4
Symptoms of Hand and Wrist Dislocations and Fractures
- Pain, often immediate and extreme
- Bruising
- Numbness
- Redness
- Deformity
- Swelling or inflammation
- Weakness
- Difficulty using hand or wrist normally
- Shortened finger
- Crossed fingers
Treatment for Hand and Wrist Dislocations and Fractures
Non-Surgical Treatment
At Beacon Orthopaedics, we always perform the most conservative treatment possible to alleviate a patient’s symptoms and get them healing properly. In the case of a dislocated or broken hand or wrist, non-invasive treatment may include:
- Casting or splinting
- Realignment of the broken bone fragments (reduction)
- Pain management
- Hand therapy after casting
Surgery for Hand and Wrist Dislocations and Fractures
In some cases, a broken hand or wrist bone will not mend properly with conservative treatment like casting. When this happens, our hand and wrist experts will recommend surgery to preserve function. During surgery to fix a broken hand or wrist, pins, screws, or an external fixator are used to hold the bone in the correct position as it heals.
Contact Beacon Orthopaedics
If you have broken or dislocated a hand or wrist, you need prompt treatment by an experienced specialist in order to alleviate your pain and heal properly. To schedule a consultation with a hand and wrist expert at Beacon Orthopaedics, please contact us today.
1 Mayo Clinic. Dislocation. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dislocation/symptoms-causes/syc-20354113. Accessed December 22, 2021.
2 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Distal Radius Fractures. Available: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/distal-radius-fractures-broken-wrist/. Accessed December 22, 2021.
3 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Scaphoid Fracture of the Wrist. Available: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/scaphoid-fracture-of-the-wrist/. Accessed December 22, 2021.
4 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Hand Fractures. Available: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/hand-fractures/. Accessed December 22, 2021.