How Do I Know If My Hand Is Broken or Just Bruised?
You jam a finger during a basketball game or slip on an icy sidewalk and catch yourself with your hands. Then you start to hurt. The injury doesn’t seem serious, but the affected hand or wrist soon becomes bruised, swollen and painful. While it may be nothing to worry about, you could have a broken hand without realizing it.
While a bad bruise and a broken hand share many identical symptoms, they are different injuries. Ignoring the subtle signs of a fractured bone can lead to permanent damage.
In this blog, we’ll help you understand the signs and symptoms of a broken hand, when to seek medical attention and the risks of ignoring the pain.
Broken vs. Bruised: What Does a Hand Fracture Actually Feel Like?
A bruised hand is very different from a broken hand. However, it can be hard to tell the difference as both can cause discoloration, pain and swelling.
With a broken hand, your pain may be more severe, and it may be difficult to move your hand or an affected finger or thumb. You may have other symptoms depending on the type of fracture.
- Comminuted. With this hand injury, the bone shatters into pieces.
- Open. An open fracture occurs when bone pushes through the skin and is visible.
- Stable. The pieces of broken bone remain aligned with one another and are likely to remain that way.
- Stress. Also called a hairline fracture, this occurs when the bone doesn’t break fully but cracks due to overuse.
- Unstable. Instead of remaining in place, the pieces of broken bone move out of place.
Answering Your Top Questions About a Broken Hand
What Is the Most Common Bone to Break in Your Hand?
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the fifth metacarpal is the most commonly broken hand bone. This bone connects the pinky to the palm of your hand.
Breaking this bone is typically the result of punching a hard object, such as a wall or car. As a result, it’s often called a “boxer’s fracture.”
Can You Break a Bone in Your Hand and Still Move It?
It is sometimes possible to move a broken bone in your hand, but you shouldn’t. Doing so can worsen your symptoms.
What Does a Hairline Fracture in the Hand Feel Like?
You may experience tenderness and pain in the affected area. The pain can take up to three weeks to begin. When you do begin to feel pain, it may hurt only after using the hand. Over time, the pain worsens and lasts longer.
What Are the Symptoms of a Broken Bone in the Hand?
A broken hand typically causes several symptoms. You may experience:
- Bruising, swelling, tenderness or pain in and near the affected area
- Deformed or shortened finger
- Loss of range of motion or inability to move the affected finger
- Misaligned wrist
What Happens If a Broken Bone in the Hand Goes Untreated
Immediately after breaking a bone, your body begins repairing the damaged bone.
“Bone-to-bone healing is often the fastest we see,” says Dr. J.P. Delaney, hand and upper extremity surgeon at Summit Orthopedics.
Although typically helpful, this natural, speedy process can pose problems. If you don’t receive treatment for your broken bone, it may heal in the wrong position, a condition called malunion. Over time, malunion can lead to issues, such as:
- Hand arthritis
- Deformity or loss of function
- Ongoing pain, swelling, stiffness and tenderness
- Scissoring of the affected finger (crossing over nearby fingers)
To reduce the risk of malunion, contact your medical provider if your finger, hand or wrist becomes bruised or swollen. An examination and X-ray can detect or rule out a fracture. Without these tests, you could not realize that you’ve broken your hand or wrist.
One specific bone in the wrist, called the scaphoid, has a high risk of not healing at all if left untreated. This can result in joint damage and early arthritis.
What Will a Doctor Do for a Fractured Hand?
Once your broken hand is diagnosed, your care team can develop a care plan. Options include:
- Bracing or splinting. You wear a brace, splint or cast for a few weeks. This keeps your bones in proper position as they heal.
- Closed reduction. An orthopedic specialist manually realigns the broken bones to their natural positions. Bracing or splinting is common after this procedure.
- Surgical correction. An orthopedic surgeon repositions broken bones through one or more incisions. Wires, screws and other devices can help hold the bones in place throughout the healing process. According to Dr. Delaney, you may need surgery if your broken bones are out of position.
Follow your care team’s instructions for enhanced healing and recovery.
Key Takeaways
Breaking your hand can be painful. Recognizing the problem early leads to early treatment and reduced risk of complications.
- There are several types of hand fractures. They affect the bones in your fingers, palm and wrist.
- Sometimes, symptoms are not enough to diagnose a broken hand. Your care provider may perform an in-office examination and X-ray.
- Once diagnosed, you can receive noninvasive or surgical treatment. By following your care team’s orders, you can regain the form and function of your hand.
