Recovery for Hand Fracture Injuries

Hand fractures are one of the more common, but lesser known injuries suffered by accident victims. Whether from putting out a hand in an effort to stop a slip and fall accident, or bracing against the steering wheel, our hands are often one of the first parts of the body to sustain impact in the event of an accident. This leaves them susceptible to a wide range of injuries, including lacerations, sprains, strains, and fractures. Unfortunately, these kinds of injuries can have a significant impact on a victim’s day-to-day life and also often require extensive treatment and therapy before full function can be restored.

Direct Impact Can Cause Hand Fractures 

The bones in the hand, like any bone in the body, can be broken in a variety of ways, but in accident scenarios, most are injured as a result of direct blunt force impact. Direct blows from striking the ground, for instance, can cause the bones to break, as can a forceful impact to the hand in a car crash. In other cases, hands can sustain crush injuries, which occur when heavy objects fall directly onto the bones themselves. This can occur in workplace accidents, but also in car crashes.

These Symptoms Could be Evidence of a Hand Fracture 

Knowing the signs of a fractured hand is critical for early detection and eventual medical intervention. The most common symptoms include:

• Localized pain and swelling, with the injured area often tender to the touch;
• Visible deformity, like misalignment or angulation of the hand or finger bones, with the affected area often appearing out of place or crooked; and
• Limited range of motion in the fingers or hand joints.

Besides being painful, these kinds of symptoms can also make it difficult, if not impossible to perform certain daily tasks or to fulfill one’s job responsibilities. Treating hand fractures can also be complicated, as the exact course of treatment will vary depending on the type and location of the break.

Treating a Hand Fracture 

For relatively minor injuries, fractures can be treated with immobilization, which involves applying a cast, brace, or splint to promote proper alignment while the bone heals. In more serious cases, however, surgery may be necessary to restore alignment, stability, and function to the bones and nearby structures. Surgery could involve:

• Open reduction, where the bones are manipulated directly back into their proper position;
• Internal fixation, which holds the bones in place with screws, pins, or plates while they heal;
• External fixation, where the stabilizing pins or wires are inserted into the bone and then connected to an external frame during healing;
• Bone grafting, in which bone tissue is taken from another part of the body to fill any bone loss or gaps between bone ends; and
• Soft tissue repair to the ligaments, tendons, or nerves.

Once treated, hand fracture injuries usually require some sort of rehabilitation to restore hand function and improve range of motion, strength, and flexibility. All of this can quickly become expensive, which is why accident victims may need to seek compensation from the at-fault party who caused their injury for medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs.

Call or Contact Us Online Today 

If you or a loved one suffered a hand injury because of someone else’s negligence, call the experienced Florida personal injury lawyers at Boone & Davis today to learn more about your legal options.

Sources:

 mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/broken-hand/symptoms-causes/syc-20450240

ortho.wustl.edu/content/About-Us/2858/Videos/Dr-Ryan-Calfee/Orthopedic-Minute—Hand-Fractures.aspx