Will My Broken Hand Ever Be Normal Again?

There are so many ways for you to damage your fingers and hands. You can break these bones by falling, getting your fingers caught awkwardly in your dog’s leash, slamming your finger in a door, trying to catch a ball, working with tools or hitting a hard surface.

The more than two dozen bones found in each of your hands are among the most likely to be broken in your lifetime. In fact, it is estimated that fractured metacarpal bones (those narrow bones found in your palm) represent one of every 10 broken bones in the US.

With so many different bones in your hand, a fracture can show itself in a number of ways after some type of trauma Common symptoms include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Stiffness or difficulty moving your hand, fingers or thumb
• Discoloration or bruising
• Unusual bump on your hand

Some patients may not realize they’ve sustained a fracture, suspecting instead that they have just “jammed their finger.”  If patients are unable to regain full range of motion, or have persistent swelling lasting longer than a few days or a week, they should consider seeking medical evaluation including X-rays to avoid larger problems down the road.

Treatment Strategies

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to broken fingers and hands. Treatment decisions are based on a range of factors, including the location and severity of the break. The same bone could be treated differently from one person to the next, depending on the characteristics of the fracture.

The initial goal of treatment is to stabilize the bone. For mild fractures where the bone hasn’t moved that much, immobilizing with a splint, a cast, or even simple “buddy taping” may do the trick. Usually a splint on a finger is worn for about three to six weeks depending on the severity of the fracture.

But in other cases, surgery is needed to align the bone and to prevent the bone fragments from shifting. Your surgeon may use one of two approaches:

• External fixation: This uses metal pins or wires that stick out of your hand.
• Internal fixation: Screws, plates or pins are inserted into the bone from the inside.

Once the bone is stabilized, it is important to start working on range of motion as soon as possible – without causing further damage. This may be as soon as a couple of days after the surgery for some fractures while other fractures may require a few weeks of protection prior to beginning range of motion..

In some instances, your recovery may be as simple as following a series of stretching and strengthening exercises provided by your doctor. But often you will work with an occupational therapist (hand therapist) who specializes in hand injuries.

The hand therapist will focus on restoring active and passive range of motion, working through scar tissue and building up strength as the recovery progresses. The therapist can also assist with your return to work – including recommending changes to your workspace – during your recovery.

Back to Normal?

Every hand injury is different. But it is common, particularly with finger fractures, for there to be some lasting damage. There are just so many delicately balanced tissues in your hand including various ligaments, tendons and bones, that even small alterations can greatly impact the function and range of motion of the fingers.

The fingers are uniquely sensitive to swelling and scar tissue, which can make them more prone to stiffness and contracture. An injury to one finger can lead to problems in neighboring joints and even fingers.

As a result, even after you have recovered from the injury, there may be a slight enlargement of the broken finger and some loss of range of motion. Still, most people are able to regain enough function to return to whatever activities they were doing before the injury occurred.

Among the keys to a successful recovery is following the guidance of your doctor and therapist to recover as much range of motion as possible.