Boxer’s Fracture
A boxer’s fracture is a type of knuckle fracture that occurs when there is a break in the fifth metacarpal bone of the hand, affecting the little or pinky finger. The metacarpals are the long bones inside the palm, and the fifth metacarpal specifically connects to your little finger. Also known as a broken pinky, a boxer’s fracture is the most common type of hand fracture.
Fractures are partial or complete breaks in a bone. They occur when a force is applied to the bone that exceeds the strength of the bone, such as when punching a solid object.
Summit Orthopedics’ hand and wrist specialists provide expert diagnosis and treatment for boxer’s fractures at locations throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Types of Fractures
There are two general categories of fractures.
[H3] Nondisplaced Fracture
A nondisplaced fracture is a type of bone fracture where the bone is broken, but the broken pieces remain aligned. In other words, the bone has cracked or broken, but it hasn’t moved out of its normal position.
Treatment for nondisplaced fractures typically focuses on immobilizing the injured area to allow the bone to heal properly. This may involve using a cast, splint or brace.
Displaced Fracture
A displaced fracture is a type of bone fracture where the broken ends of the bone are no longer aligned. This means that the bone fragments have shifted out of their normal position.
Displaced fractures are generally more severe than nondisplaced fractures. They often need more extensive treatment to ensure proper healing and the restoration of normal function. A boxer’s fracture requires hand and wrist care to prevent further injury and restore full functioning.
Symptoms of a Broken Pinky
The symptoms of a boxer’s fracture vary depending on the severity. Common symptoms of a boxer’s fracture may include:
* Bruising
* Deformity—the knuckle of the little finger may look sunken in
* Difficulty straightening the little finger
* Pain
* Tenderness and swelling around the knuckle of the little finger
* The little finger may cross over the next finger when making a fist (called “scissoring”)
What Causes a Boxer’s Fracture?
Boxer’s fractures typically happen when you punch a hard surface with a closed fist. The fifth metacarpal bone absorbs most of the punch’s force, causing injury. A boxer’s fracture can also occur during a fall when you fall onto a closed fist rather than an outstretched hand.
Diagnosing a Boxer’s Fracture
Diagnosis for a boxer’s fracture begins with a complete physical exam, which assesses your pain level, finger appearance and range of motion. You will also have an X-ray to determine whether you have a nondisplaced or displaced boxer’s fracture.
In certain situations, your specialist may also recommend an MRI or a CT scan. These imaging tests offer detailed images of your hand, including its bones, tendons and ligaments. This allows your doctor to clearly see the exact location and extent of your fracture, which allows a more personalized treatment plan to be created.
Boxer’s Fracture Treatment Options
Your treatment plan depends on the type and severity of your fracture. Most cases of boxer’s fractures can be treated with nonsurgical options.
Your custom treatment plan may include:
Immobilization
Immobilization is the recommended treatment for a boxer’s fracture. This may require a cast or brace (also known as a boxer’s fracture splint) to correct bone alignment and prevent you from using the bone while it heals. Buddy taping, or binding the little and ring fingers together with a special tape to prevent movement, is another type of immobilization to fix a boxer’s fracture.
Medications
Along with casting, you may need over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen, to reduce pain and inflammation. Acetaminophen can also reduce pain but isn’t effective at treating inflammation.
Physical therapy
Hand therapy, a type of physical therapy, can help restore full hand functioning. During hand therapy, a therapist will guide you through exercises that strengthen the muscles of your hand. You may also be given exercises to complete at home.
Surgery to Treat Boxer’s Fracture
Surgery should be the last option to correct a boxer’s fracture. In severe cases, your doctor may recommend surgery to realign the bones.
In most cases where surgery is necessary, pinky finger fractures are often surgically treated with a procedure called open reduction surgery. During this surgery, the doctor aligns the bones and secures them in place with screws, pins, plates or wires. Your surgeon will let you know if you need to have these devices removed after surgery or if they will remain in your pinky for the rest of your life.
Surgery for a broken pinky is usually outpatient surgery, which means you can return home the same day of the procedure. However, you will have to wear a cast or brace until your pinky is healed.
How Long Will It Take for the Fracture to Heal?
The average healing process for a boxer’s fracture is anywhere from six to eight weeks, but different people heal at different rates. It may be slightly longer if surgery is required.
Boxer’s fractures do not heal on their own. Even if you have a moderate fracture, you should see a doctor.
The primary goal of fracture treatment is to ensure that your bones heal properly so you can return to your everyday active life as quickly as possible without any future symptoms or loss of function.
The function of our hands is integrated through our wrists and arms to our shoulders. A problem anywhere along your arm may have a significant impact on hand function and quality of life.
Find your Summit Orthopedics hand and wrist expert, request an appointment online or call us at (651) 968-5201 to schedule a consultation.
