Broken arm - Symptoms, causes and treatment

A broken hand or hand fracture can be caused by an injury to the hand. When the hand has a fracture, the sufferer will feel severe pain in the hand and the shape of the hand will look abnormal.

The hand consists of finger bones, palm bones (metacarpals), and wrist bones (carpals). Most hand fractures occur in the metacarpals, especially the palms that support the little finger.

When one or more bones in the hand are cracked or broken, the function of the fingers, palms, and wrists will be disrupted. This condition will affect the patient's ability to perform daily activities, such as writing, buttoning a shirt, or driving a vehicle.

Symptoms of a Broken Hand

Most hand fractures can be clearly seen. Sufferers may hear a 'crack' sound that marks a crack or fracture in the bone. This condition is usually accompanied by the following signs and symptoms:

  • bruises.
  • Hands swell.
  • Numb.
  • Severe pain that gets worse when the hand is moved.
  • The shape of the bones of the hand is not normal, for example the position of the fingers crossed to the other fingers.
  • Fingers appear shorter and difficult to move.

When to go to the doctor

Call your doctor immediately if you experience an injury accompanied by the symptoms of a broken hand as mentioned above. Handling needs to be done as soon as possible to prevent the condition of a broken hand from getting worse.

Immediately consult a doctor if you are at risk for osteoporosis. This condition makes you more prone to fractures. Talk to your doctor about steps you can take to increase bone strength and prevent fractures.

Causes of a Broken Hand

Hand fractures are caused by pressure or a hard impact that results in injury to the hand. These injuries can occur in various parts of the hand bones, such as the knuckle, the bottom of the knuckle, the palm of the hand, and the base of the bone near the wrist.

There are several conditions that cause broken hands, namely:

  • Fall down

    Falling with your hands supporting your body can increase your risk of fractures in your wrist or fingers.

  • Motorcycle or car accident

    Traffic accidents cause the bones of the hand to fracture or even break into several parts.

  • Sports injury

    Some sports, such as soccer, floor gymnastics, martial arts, and boxing, have a risk of causing a broken hand.

  • Accidents in the work environment

    Some types of work, such as work in the agricultural sector and heavy equipment industry, have a high risk of causing broken hands.

In addition to the above conditions, hand fractures are also susceptible to osteoporosis sufferers. Osteoporosis occurs when bone density decreases, so that the bones become porous and easy to crack even if they only experience a light fall.

Broken Hand Diagnosis

To diagnose a broken hand, the doctor will perform a physical examination of the suspected fracture. The doctor will also ask the patient to move the hand and feel for pain in the area of ​​the fracture. Then an X-ray is also done to clearly see the condition of the broken bone.

Broken Hand Handling

Handling of each broken hand condition is carried out directly by an orthopedic doctor at the hospital. However, there are several first aid steps that can be taken to prevent the condition from getting worse, namely:

  • Try to stay calm, even though the pain and the condition of the injury will make you panic.
  • Limit the movement of the broken arm to prevent the injury from getting worse. Use pads or supports so your hands don't move easily.
  • Place an ice pack on the injured hand for 20 minutes to relieve pain and reduce swelling.
  • If bleeding occurs, use gauze or a clean cloth to apply pressure to the wound so that the bleeding stops.
  • Take pain relievers, such as paracetamol.

When you arrive at the hospital, the doctor will determine the type and carry out further treatment. Treatment steps can be done without surgery or through surgery, depending on the condition and severity of the injury.

Handling broken hands without surgery

Steps for handling and healing hand fractures without surgery include:

  • Pain reliever

    Pain relievers used, for example, ibuprofen or diclofenac. If the patient experiences severe pain, the doctor can give tramadol. Antibiotics are used for open hand fractures to prevent bone infection.

  • Closed reduction

    If the hand fracture is misaligned or the shift is not too severe, the doctor will slowly reorient the hand bones to their normal position without surgery.

  • Immobilization

    In this procedure, the orthopedic doctor will place a support device for the broken arm, such as a cast or plaster sling (broken arm sling), to ensure that the broken bone remains in its normal position.

Treatment of broken hand with surgery

A surgical procedure is performed to attach a pen to hold and restore the broken hand bone to its original position. Surgery is performed under the following conditions:

  • An open fracture, when the broken bone of the hand protrudes from the skin.
  • The fracture goes into the joint.
  • Pieces of bone move after a cast or splint
  • Bone injuries that cause damage to ligaments, nerves, or blood vessels.

Sometimes a bone graft procedure (bone graft) is necessary to treat hand fractures that cause joint damage.

Healing of hand fractures after surgery

During the postoperative fracture healing process, the patient will need to wear a cast or fractured arm for 3-6 weeks, depending on the location and severity of the fracture. After the cast or sling is removed, the doctor recommends the patient to undergo physiotherapy to restore function and improve hand strength.

Complications of a Broken Hand

Although rare, broken hands can cause complications, especially if not treated immediately. Some of the complications of a broken hand that can occur are:

  • Infection.
  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Nerve or blood vessel damage.
  • Uneven bone growth, especially in children.
  • Permanent disability.

Broken Hand Prevention

Broken hands can happen anytime and anywhere at the most unexpected time, so preventive measures are difficult to take. However, the following steps can be taken to reduce the risk of a broken hand:

Prevent injury

Actions that can be taken to reduce the risk of injury include:

  • Wear comfortable shoes.
  • Be careful when walking and avoid slippery road surfaces, especially after it rains.
  • Make sure your home has adequate lighting.
  • Remove objects that could cause you to fall, such as carpets.
  • Install handrails on stairs or bathrooms.
  • Get regular eye exams.

Increase bone strength

Here are some ways to increase bone strength:

  • Eat foods high in calcium and vitamin D.
  • Do regular exercise, such as brisk walking.
  • Quit smoking, if you are an active smoker.