Advanced Hand Fracture Care | Expert Hand and Wrist Specialists in San Antonio
What is a Hand Fracture?
A hand fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in the hand, which include the metacarpals and phalanges. These fractures can range from minor cracks to complete breaks that cause misalignment of the bones. Hand fractures are among the most common orthopedic injuries and can significantly impact daily activities, including gripping, writing, and even simple movements like buttoning a shirt.
Common Causes of Hand Fractures:
Hand fractures can result from various accidents and high-impact injuries. Some of the most common causes include:
Falls: Landing on an outstretched hand can lead to fractures, particularly in the fingers or wrist.
Sports Injuries: Contact sports like football and basketball, as well as activities such as martial arts and rock climbing, often involve forceful impacts or falls that can break bones in the hand.
Workplace Accidents: Jobs that involve manual labor, such as construction or factory work, increase the risk of fractures due to machinery, tools, or heavy objects.
Car Accidents: The force from an impact can cause crushing injuries or direct trauma to the hands.
Direct Blows & Crush Injuries: Punching a hard surface, getting a hand caught in a door, or being struck by an object can result in broken bones.
Experiencing symptoms of a hand fracture? At The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio, our expert hand specialists provide advanced diagnosis and treatment to ensure proper healing. With our specialized approach and personalized care plans, we will help you regain full hand function so you can get back to doing what you love.
Symptoms of a Hand Fracture
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Pain and Tenderness
A fractured hand often causes persistent pain, especially when trying to move or apply pressure to the affected area. The tenderness may extend beyond the fracture site, making everyday activities uncomfortable.
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Swelling and Bruising
Inflammation is a natural response to injury, leading to noticeable swelling and discoloration around the fracture. Bruising may spread beyond the injured area and worsen over time.
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Deformity or Misalignment
In some cases, a hand fracture can cause the fingers or hand to appear visibly crooked, bent at an unusual angle, or misaligned. Any noticeable deformity should be evaluated by a specialist.
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Difficulty Moving the Hand or Fingers
Stiffness, weakness, or an inability to grip objects could indicate a fracture. Some patients may find it difficult to make a fist or extend their fingers fully.
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Numbness or Tingling
If the fracture impacts nearby nerves, it may lead to abnormal sensations such as tingling, burning, or numbness in the fingers or hand. This could be a sign of nerve involvement, which requires immediate attention.
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Popping or Grinding Sensation
Some fractures may cause an unusual popping, grinding, or cracking sensation when moving the hand or fingers. This could indicate bone fragments shifting or rubbing against each other, signaling an unstable fracture.
Specialized Treatment Options for Hand Fractures
At The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio, we provide both non-surgical and surgical treatments to ensure proper healing and restore hand function.
Non-Surgical Treatments
For stable fractures where bones remain aligned, non-invasive treatments can support healing:
Immobilization: A splint or cast stabilizes the bone to prevent movement and ensure proper healing.
Buddy Taping: Minor finger fractures may be taped to an adjacent finger for added support.
Pain Management: Over-the-counter pain relievers help reduce discomfort and inflammation.
Physical Therapy: Once healed, therapy helps restore strength, flexibility, and mobility.
Surgical treatment:
For severe or misaligned fractures, surgery may be required to properly realign and stabilize the bones:
Closed Reduction & Pinning: Realigns the bone and secures it with pins or wires.
Open Reduction & Internal Fixation (ORIF): Uses plates, screws, or wires to hold bones in place.
External Fixation: In severe cases, an external frame stabilizes the hand while it heals.
Bone Grafting: Used if significant bone loss occurs or healing is delayed.
why come to The Hand and Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio for Hand Fracture Care?
When you choose The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio for your hand fracture, you're entrusting your care to a team of experienced professionals. Our physicians have a combined 100+ years of expertise in treating hand and wrist injuries, and our hand surgery fellows bring additional specialized knowledge to the table. Our dedicated staff is committed to your well-being, providing personalized care, and ensuring a successful recovery. By choosing our center, you're investing in the highest quality care available for hand fractures.
Meet Our Physicians
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David P. Green, M.D.
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Mark Bagg, M.D.
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David W. Person, M.D., F.A.C.S.
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Ramesh C. Srinivasan, M.D.
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Kunj Desai, M.D., F.A.C.S.
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OTHER HAND & WRIST RELATED ISSUES WE CAN HELP WITH
Did you know we offer in-house therapy?
Hand therapy is a merging of occupational and physical therapy theory and practice that combines comprehensive knowledge of the structure of the upper limb with function and activity. Using specialized skills in assessment, planning and treatment, hand therapists provide therapeutic interventions to prevent dysfunction, restore function and/or reverse the progression of pathology of the upper limb in order to enhance an individual’s ability to execute tasks and to participate fully in life situations.
