How long does it take for a metacarpal fracture to heal?
Most of the healing happens between three to six weeks but can take several months for your full symptoms to settle completely. In addition, once the fracture has healed you may have a permanent ‘bump’ where the bone was fractured.
What is the treatment for a fractured metacarpal?
Treatment of metacarpal fractures and dislocations is primarily nonoperative. Management usually consists of sedation or local anesthesia, followed by closed reduction of the fracture or dislocation. A forearm-based splint is then applied and held in place with a loose compressive wrap.
Can you move your finger with a broken metacarpal?
Their hand will be very painful, maximally so over the specific metacarpal bone that is fractured. There will be swelling, often a considerable amount, as well as bruising directly over the injury. They may have difficulty moving the fingers due to the amount of pain from the fracture.
Do metacarpal fractures require a cast?
Metacarpal fracture – undisplaced Your fracture can be treated with splinting, taping or casting (or a combination of all three of these). Generally a cast is only used for treating metacarpal fractures for children or individuals who will not be able to keep their fingers safely immobilised with a splint.
How common are metacarpal fractures?
The incidence of metacarpal neck fractures presenting for hospital care in the United States is 13.6 per 100,000 person-years. [1] Metacarpal fractures account for 40% of all hand fractures, [[1] while fractures of the fifth metacarpal neck account for 10% of all hand fractures.
How do you tell if your metacarpal is broken?
Symptoms of a metacarpal fracture usually include one or more of the following:
- Hand pain and tenderness to touch (over the back of the hand or palm)
- Hand swelling.
- Hand bruising.
- Hand pain / grinding when making a fist.
- Hand deformity (fingers may not line up normally when making a fist)
What type of splint is used for a metacarpal fracture?
A gutter splint or cast should be used to immobilize a metacarpal fracture. This is often definitive management for fractures that meet acceptable radiographic parameters. A gutter splint may be modified based on the location of the injured finger.