A broken wrist or broken hand is a break or crack in one of the many bones within the wrist and hand. The most common of these injuries occurs in the wrist when individuals fall or land hard on the outstretched hand. Involvement in contact sports, physical fights, car accidents, or others are all triggers that can increase the risk of sustaining a broken wrist or broken hand injury. In all cases, medical examination of a broken wrist or broken hand is vital to determine the proper treatment and complete the healing process. If the bone requires realignment, seeking help from a medical professional is advised.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms for a broken wrist or broken hand include:
- Pain and sensitivity when gripping or squeezing
- Swelling and tenderness around the area
- Numbness
- Contusions
- Deformity (bent wrist or crooked finger)
- Restricted movement of the fingers
Causes
Possible causes for a broken wrist or broken hand may include:
- Falls
- Sporting injuries
- Trauma injuries (car or bike accidents, others)
Risk Factors
There are some factors that may cause risk increase of a broken wrist or broken hand. These risk factors include:
- Hockey, snowboarding, skating or other sport activities that involve physical contact or increase of falling and sustaining an injury.
- Conditions that weaken the bones such as osteoporosis and bone tumors.
- Smoking
Complications
Complications of a broken wrist or broken hand may include:
- Recurrent stiffness, throbbing pain or disability
- Osteoarthritis
- Blood and nerve vessel injuries
Prevention
A few recommendations for preventing a broken wrist or broken hand may include:
- Physical activity and exercising to stay active and reduce changes of a fracture.
- Wearing protective gear for high risk activities.
- Preventing falls by wearing comfortable shoes and removing home hazards (examples such as lighting up a room or installing handrails in the hallways and stairways).
- Eating calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese, and others.
- Quit smoking
