Treatment of Metacarpal Fracture/ Hand Fracture/Brawler’s Fracture/ Boxer’s Fracture

 
 

When I was a young boy, I fell out of a tree, and I hurt my arm pretty bad, I could not move it for several weeks. My mother had finally took me to the doctor and they had told be that I had a boxer’s fracture and had to keep in still in a cast for a few weeks. It was very ugly, so I made all these people I knew, and didn’t know, to sign it and draw pictures all over it to make it look a bit better. But it actually kind of looked a little bit worse.

A boxer’s fracture, metacarpal fracture, hand fracture, and brawler’s fracture are all breaks of the bones of the hand that form the knuckles. It occurs in the metacarpal bones which connects the bones in the fingers to the bones in the wrist. Usually, there are five metacarpal bones which connects each finger to the wrist. The structure of metacarpal bones consists of the base, the shaft, the neck, and the head.

1) The base is the portion that attaches to the bones of the wrist.
2) The shaft is the long, slender portion of the bone.
3) The neck is the portion of the bone which connects the shaft to the head.
4) The head connects the metacarpal bone to the bone of the finger. It forms the knuckle of an enclosed fist.

A boxer’s fracture happens when the neck of the metacarpal breaks. It occurs when punching an object with a closed fist. For example, during fist fights or punching a hard object such as a wall.

Exams and Tests

Physical examination of the hand is the test commonly used to determine a boxer’s fracture though in extreme circumstances, x-rays are recommended. These circumstances include:

• Perceived deformity of the hand or the affected area.
• Immobility or decreased immobility of the hand, wrist or fingers.
• Extreme swelling of the hand.
• Numbness of the hand, wrist or fingers.
• Localized tenderness and discoloration of the affected area.

Generally a paramedic or doctor will determine if x-rays are essential based on the circumstances surrounding the injury. After the doctor obtains detailed information about how the hand was injured, a physical examination is the next step in the evaluation. Also, while you’re there doing that, just out of curiosity, why not find out your body fat percentage?

 

Medical Care and Attention

When your hand is injured and a you suspect fracture, contact your doctor, paramedic or visit the nearest health care center for treatment and instructions.

Some of the hospitals you can visit in Brockville include:

• St. Vincent de Paul Hosp Site
• Canadian Mental Health Association of Leeds and Greenville
• Brockville General Hospital
• Brockville General Hospital- Garden Street
• Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
• Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital
• Kemptville District Hospital
• Auxiliary Of Great War Memorial Hospital
• Winchester District Memorial Hospital
• Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital
• Providence Care
• Hotel Dieu Hospital
• Queensway Carleton Hospital
• Ongwanada Hospital.

 
 

Visit this link for a full list and check the nearest hospital.

If the degree of injury is worse and you experience massive painful, you must consider contacting the emergency response team for evaluation.

If you have already been splinted or casted but you are still experiencing increased pain, numbness, or tingling in the fingers on the casted region, you need to contact your doctor or the ER team. Also signs/symptoms of infections on the affected area require evaluation by a doctor or any qualified personnel.

Generally, any hand injury that has signs or symptoms suggesting a fracture should be evaluated by a doctor. This may be accomplished by contacting your doctor. If your doctor can’t see you right away, you may go to a hospital’s emergency response department.

The first step in the treatment of a boxer’s fracture is to immobilize the hand to alleviate the pain caused fractures while allowing proper healing. Splints are used to immobilize the joints above and below the injured area. The type of splint to be administered is determines by the degree of the injury and its nature.

The most common type of injuries include:

• Angulation (metacarpal bone has moved out of normal alignment).

  The degree of angulation will determine the best treatment required to ensure proper healing. A person with multiple angulations may be splinted by the paramedics and then referred to the hospital or emergency response team for further treatment.

  Some cases may require an orthopedic surgeon to perform surgical repairs and procedures for treatment. Pain management and therapy should also be administered.