This will restrict motion while the bone heals. It also ensures that your bones line up correctly. Treatment For Metacarpal Fracture or Broken Hand Metacarpal fracture treatment is generally done by casting. The symptoms of a broken hand depend on the severity of your injury. Your doctor will probably order a second set of x-rays about 1 to 2 weeks later. But until you can seek medication attention, there are things you can do to care for your hand. If you experience new symptoms, or if the pain doesn’t go away, let your doctor know. Healing time, of course, differs from person to person. In certain cases, you might also need a bone graft. During the recovery process, the overseeing medical professional may use intermittent imaging tests to make sure the bones are healing properly. This injury is also known as a fractured hand. Here's how to apply one correctly. A broken hand, also called a fractured hand, can occur either in the small bones of the fingers or the long bones in the main part of the hand. Broken Wrist Recovery Time Statistics . A doctor will have you get an X-ray. Once it's healed, use your finger or thumb as normal. Fingers have the highest risk of injury of all the parts of the hand. For bad breaks, an extra 2 weeks in a cast is needed. However, the best way to know if your hand is broken or sprained is to see a doctor. In general, broken hand recovery takes 3 to 6 weeks. Real small. After you suffer a hand injury, it’s important to be mindful of the following symptoms. Continuous aching, stiffness or disability: Pain, stiffness or aching in the region affected by a broken hand usually tends to go away with a month or two after the removal of the cast, or post surgery. Symptoms of a Broken Hand. You may need metal screws or pins to keep your bones in place. This process is known as fracture reduction. Usually, a broken finger is caused by trauma to the finger. When faced with an emergency injury such as a broken leg, a homemade…, Bone fracture repair is a surgery to fix a broken bone using metal screws, pins, rods, or plates to hold the bone in place. Sometimes, nerves may be injured at the same time that the bone is broken, which can result in hand and wrist weakness and numbness. Prolonged casting may sometimes result in stiffness in which case hand therapy is recommended. Broken knuckles are usually sustained by hitting a hard surface or landing awkwardly during a fall. Hurting or swelling of the hand post a break requires medical diagnosis and evaluation. Apply ice on your hand for 15 to 20 minutes every hour or as directed. The strength in the hand takes approximately 3-4 months to return to near normal levels. Some of the sports activities include the following: Some of the medical conditions that increase the risk to a broken hand include: Medications: The inflammation and pain may be alleviated with over the counter pain killers. Until you can get help, you can stop the bleeding by applying pressure and using a clean cloth or bandage. This is the band of tissue that connects two bones in a joint. Source(s): broken hand recovery time: https://tr.im/xqawF. As a general rule fractures in the hand take 6-8 weeks to unite. While a broken hand involves the bone, a sprained hand involves a ligament. Here are some of the best on the market…. If you have a broken hand, a doctor is the best person to diagnose and treat it. As per the severity of swelling and pain, a physician may prescribe a sedative, a muscle relaxant or even general anesthesia, before carrying out the procedure. They might also examine the surrounding areas, like your wrist and arm. After your cast or splint is removed, you'll likely need rehabilitation exercises or physical therapy to reduce stiffness and restore movement in your hand. A hand can break (fracture) during sports, a fall, or a car crash. However, to give you an idea of how long your wrist may take to heal we have included some general broken wrist recovery time statistics taken from these East Sussex NHS Healthcare leaflet: You may have pain and weakness in your hand. Real miniscule. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Broken Ribs Healing, Knee Replacement – Procedure, Recovery, Cost, Deviated Septum – Symptoms, Surgery Recovery, Costs, Pictures, Postmenopausal Osteoporosis-Treatment, Symptoms, Causes, Computer vision syndrome and eye exercises. To immobilize your hand, you’ll wear a cast, splint, or brace. CARE AGREEMENT: You have the right to help plan your care. You may also undergo physical therapy. Some problems you may have while your broken hand is healing include: Stiffness; Shifting of bone; Infection; Slow healing; To increase your chances of a healthy recovery, do not smoke, and carefully follow your doctor’s instructions. Treatment options include: Immobilization limits unnecessary movement, which promotes proper healing. and how long will recovery take? Some of the usual causes include: Taking part in some sports activities or presence of certain medical conditions may increase the proneness to experiencing a broken hand. Every person’s body heals differently, and healing times can vary depending on the extent of your injury. This can prolong the recovery process even further, so it’s important to receive the right treatment from the start. No time off. But without proper treatment, it’s more likely to heal incorrectly. Specifically, the bones might not line up properly. Find out how broken knuckles are treated and how…, Learn to make a splint on the go with these detailed step-by-step instructions. A sprained hand may cause the following symptoms: If you know what injury caused your symptoms, you may be able to pinpoint what’s going on. Broken Hand Prevention. If the broken bone is stable, and it will stay in place with a splint, then a splint is worn for 2-3 weeks, and then removed so people can slowly start using the hand again. To prevent hand injuries on the job: Look for hand hazards before an accident happens. In this case, go to the ER right away. You’ll have to wear the cast, splint, or brace during the entire time. As you recover, take it easy and let your hand rest. You’ll probably have to wear a splint as part of your treatment. Broken Ribs What to Do? Here’s everything you need to know about a broken finger. The doctor may examine your shoulder, upper arm, elbow, wrist, and hand, even if you only complain of arm pain. This is normal, and the lump usually gets smaller over time. Don't use your hands to wipe away debris in a machine. The cast may extend from your fingertips almost to your elbow to support the bones properly. How long it takes to recover from a broken finger or thumb A broken finger or thumb usually heals within 2 to 8 weeks, but it can take longer. Metacarpal fractures usually take about six to eight weeks to heal. Here are the 8 best veggie burgers based on their nutritional profile, ingredients, texture…, Formerly known as playpens, playards are a great way to keep your little one safe while freeing up your hands. You may also be asked to continue therapy after your cast has been removed. However, if you have a more serious injury, they might prescribe stronger pain medication. © 2005-2021 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Such therapies can help, but it must be noted that complete healing of a severely broken hand may take many months and even longer. Do not remove the splint until you follow up with your healthcare provider or hand specialist. Many seemingly minor … The Recovery Process: Broken Hand Healing Time. Broken fingers (finger fractures) are one of the most common injuries of the hand. High speed injuries that can happen during motor vehicles accidents may cause the bones in the hands to fracture or break into several pieces. One may also consult the health care provider about exercises which may help, or for getting a reference for occupational or physical therapy. Therapy: After the removal of the split or the cast, the broken hand may need to undergo physical therapy or rehabilitation exercises to decrease stiffness and restore motion of the affected hand. Without treatment, your broken hand may not heal. These include the following first aid procedures: The goal of broken bone first aid is to limit further injury. It covers part of your fingers and both sides of your hand and wrist, and you’ll most likely wear it for around three weeks. If you suspect you have a broken hand, see a doctor immediately. Motor vehicle crashes can cause hand bones to break, sometimes into many pieces, and often require surgical repair.You may be at higher risk of a broken hand if you participate in contact sports like football or hockey, or if you have a condition in which bones become thinner and more fragile (osteoporosis).It's important to treat a broken hand as soon as possible. Most hand fractures occur as a result of direct trauma to the hand—either an object falls on the hand or the hand strikes an object.1 But you can also break a hand bone with a twisting injury or in a fall. Intense pains which has a tendency to elevate while squeezing or griping, Inability to move the thumb or the fingers, or stiffness, Noticeable deformity, like a crooked finger or bent wrist. A hand fracture is caused by physical trauma, such as: These injuries can happen during scenarios like: If you think you have a broken hand, see a doctor immediately. The healing time required for a broken finger may be about 4 weeks for children and 6 weeks for adults, provided that the instructions given by the doctor are followed carefully and correctly. If you recently been in a crash, they’ll ask about what happened and how your hand was injured. A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched or torn. However, in certain cases surgery may be required to implant internal fixation gadgets like screws or rods, plates, or bone grafts to preserve correct position of the bones while healing. Fingers have the highest risk of injury of all the parts of the hand. The location of the break and how serious it is are the two biggest deciding factors. Read more about first aid, home remedies, treatments, and recovery time for a broken finger. If the ends of a broken bone are not aligned correctly, then the doctor will have to adjust the pieces back into their correct positions. They’ll also recommend the appropriate dose and frequency. Full recovery time for a broken hand may take longer when the injury or fracture is severe, requiring extensive therapy to regain function, or if there are complications. One of the most common causes of a broken hand is falling hard onto an extended hand. A cast, splint or brace may be applied to keep the bones in acceptable alignment while they heal. Visit a doctor as soon as you think you’ve broken your hand. Early treatment will also ensure the minimization of stiffness and pain. They can explain when it’s safe to return to normal activities. "No surgery. Flavorless veggie patties are a thing of the past. Symptoms and Treatment. Metacarpal fractures are often difficult to effectively mobilize and will likely require surgery. But it might be necessary if your injury is severe. This ensures that the bone heals correctly. They’ll have you wear a cast, splint, or brace to keep your hand still. If your fracture heals on its own, your hand may be deformed. You’ll also need surgery if your hand was already immobilized but didn’t heal correctly. The recovery time for a broken hand will vary based on several things. But before that, let us see what the symptoms are and how to treat this type of injury. You may have tissue damage, and you may get an infection. A broken hand can occur from a twisting or crushing injury, from a fall or from a sports injury. Some of the signs and symptoms of a broken hand are listed below: A few complications arising out of a broken hand are mentioned below: A crushing trauma or a direct blow to the hands can cause any one of bones in them, to break. A broken hand happens when one or more bones in your hand break as a result of an accident, fall, or contact sports. The best option depends on your specific injury. Immobilization: Limiting the motion of a broken bone in the hand is vital to complete healing.