Hand Fractures
Restore hand movement, rebuild strength, and regain confidence in everyday activities with personalised physiotherapy after a hand fracture.
Contents
Take the First Step Towards Better Movement
Our experienced physiotherapists are here to help you improve mobility, regain strength, and move with greater comfort and confidence.
What is Hand Fractures?
Hand Fractures occur when one or more bones in the hand are broken. These injuries may affect the metacarpal bones in the palm or the phalanges in the fingers and thumb. They commonly result from falls, direct impacts, sports injuries, accidents, or crushing trauma. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruising, deformity, stiffness, and difficulty gripping or moving the fingers. Treatment may involve splinting, casting, or surgery depending on the location and severity of the fracture. At Pure Physio, rehabilitation focuses on safely restoring movement, strength, grip, dexterity, and functional hand use after appropriate medical treatment.
A hand fracture is a break or crack in one or more of the bones that make up the hand. The hand contains 27 bones, including the wrist bones, metacarpals, and phalanges. Hand fractures commonly involve the bones of the palm and fingers.
The main bones affected include:
Metacarpals: The five long bones forming the structure of the palm.
Phalanges: The bones that form the fingers and thumb.
Common types of hand fractures include:
Metacarpal Fracture: A break in one of the long bones of the palm.
Boxer’s Fracture: A fracture affecting the neck of the fifth metacarpal, often occurring after punching or direct impact.
Phalangeal Fracture: A break in one of the finger or thumb bones.
Thumb Fracture: A fracture affecting one of the bones of the thumb.
Non-Displaced Fracture: The broken bone remains in a relatively normal position.
Displaced Fracture: The bone fragments have moved out of alignment.
Intra-Articular Fracture: The fracture extends into a finger or hand joint.
Comminuted Fracture: The bone is broken into multiple pieces.
Because the hand is essential for gripping, fine movements, and everyday activities, appropriate fracture alignment and rehabilitation are important for restoring comfortable and effective hand function.
What Are The Symptoms Of Hand Fractures?
Common Symptoms
Sudden Hand Pain: Pain usually develops immediately after the injury.
Swelling: The hand, finger, or thumb may become swollen.
Bruising: Discolouration may develop around the injured area.
Tenderness: The fracture site is often painful when touched.
Difficulty Moving the Fingers: Bending or straightening the fingers may be painful or restricted.
Pain with Gripping: Holding or squeezing objects may increase discomfort.
Reduced Hand Strength: The hand may feel weak or difficult to use.
Other Possible Symptoms
Deformity: A displaced fracture may cause a finger, thumb, or part of the hand to look bent or misaligned.
Finger Rotation: A finger may cross or overlap another finger when making a fist, which can indicate a rotational deformity.
Difficulty Making a Fist: Pain, swelling, or stiffness may make it difficult to fully close the hand.
Reduced Dexterity: Fine tasks such as writing, typing, buttoning clothes, or handling small objects may become difficult.
Numbness or Tingling: Nerve irritation or injury may cause altered sensation.
Reduced Sensation: Parts of the hand or fingers may feel numb.
Cold or Pale Fingers: Circulation problems can occur with serious injuries and require urgent medical assessment.
An open wound, visible bone, severe deformity, uncontrolled bleeding, or cold, pale, or numb fingers requires urgent emergency medical care.
What Are The Causes Of Hand Fractures?
Falls: Falling onto the hand can cause one or more bones to break.
Direct Impact: A strong blow to the hand or fingers can cause a fracture.
Sports Injuries: Contact, collisions, falls, or impact from sports equipment can injure the hand.
Punching Injuries: Forceful impact against a hard object can cause a metacarpal fracture, including a boxer’s fracture.
Crushing Injuries: The hand may be injured in doors, machinery, or other accidents.
Road Traffic Accidents: High-force trauma can cause complex hand fractures.
Workplace Accidents: Direct trauma or crushing injuries may damage the bones of the hand.
Bone Weakness: Conditions such as osteoporosis or other bone disorders can increase fracture risk.
Repetitive Stress: Repeated loading may occasionally contribute to stress fractures.
Diagnosis Of Hand Fractures
Medical History: A healthcare professional will ask how the injury occurred and about your symptoms.
Physical Examination: The hand and fingers are assessed for pain, swelling, deformity, tenderness, movement, alignment, and function.
Finger Alignment Assessment: The position and movement of the fingers may be checked for rotational deformity.
Neurovascular Assessment: Sensation, circulation, pulses, and nerve function are assessed.
X-Rays: X-rays are commonly used to confirm the fracture and assess bone alignment.
CT Scan: CT imaging may provide detailed information about complex or joint-related fractures.
MRI Scan: MRI may be used in selected cases to identify associated soft-tissue injuries or fractures that are difficult to detect.
Follow-Up Imaging: Repeat imaging may be required to monitor healing and bone alignment.
Proper diagnosis is important because some fractures require precise alignment to prevent long-term movement and function problems.
Treatment Of Hand Fractures
Treatment depends on the bone involved, fracture pattern, alignment, stability, and associated injuries.
Immobilisation: A splint, cast, or protective brace may support and protect the hand while the bone heals.
Pain Management: Appropriate medication may be recommended by a healthcare professional.
Fracture Reduction: Displaced bone fragments may need to be carefully realigned.
Non-Surgical Management: Stable fractures may heal with appropriate protection and monitoring.
Surgical Fixation: Unstable, significantly displaced, rotated, or complex fractures may require pins, screws, plates, or other fixation methods.
Hand Rehabilitation: Physiotherapy or specialised hand therapy can help restore movement, strength, and function once medically appropriate.
Gradual Return to Activity: Gripping, lifting, pushing, pulling, and sporting activities are gradually reintroduced according to bone healing and medical guidance.
Starting heavy gripping or loading too early may interfere with healing, so it is important to follow your healthcare provider’s advice.
What Is The Physiotherapy Treatment Of Hand Fractures
Detailed Assessment: At Pure Physio, we assess pain, swelling, fracture-healing status, finger and thumb movement, joint mobility, hand strength, grip, dexterity, and functional limitations.
Individualised Rehabilitation Programme: Your treatment is based on the specific bone involved, fracture location, severity, treatment method, stage of healing, and personal goals.
Pain and Swelling Management: Appropriate strategies may help support comfort and manage swelling.
Protected Early Movement: Once medically cleared, gentle movement can help maintain mobility while protecting the healing fracture.
Finger Range of Motion Exercises: Controlled exercises gradually improve finger bending and straightening.
Thumb Mobility Exercises: Rehabilitation supports the recovery of thumb movement and function where required.
Tendon Gliding Exercises: Carefully selected exercises may help maintain smooth movement of the tendons and fingers.
Joint Mobility Rehabilitation: Treatment helps address stiffness in the finger and hand joints following injury or immobilisation.
Gentle Stretching: Carefully progressed stretching may improve flexibility once sufficient bone healing has occurred.
Hand Strengthening: Progressive exercises help rebuild strength in the muscles of the hand and fingers.
Grip Strength Training: Activities help restore the ability to grip, hold, carry, and control objects.
Pinch Strength Training: Exercises can improve thumb and finger control for precise activities.
Dexterity Training: Functional activities help improve fine motor skills such as picking up small objects, writing, typing, and fastening clothing.
Wrist and Forearm Exercises: Rehabilitation may include nearby joints to restore overall upper-limb function.
Functional Rehabilitation: Therapy focuses on practical tasks such as dressing, cooking, writing, using a phone, typing, lifting objects, and opening containers.
Work-Specific Rehabilitation: Exercises can be adapted to the hand movements and physical demands required for your job.
Sport-Specific Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation can progress toward sport-related gripping, catching, throwing, or impact activities.
Post-Operative Rehabilitation: If surgery is required, your programme follows the surgeon’s recommendations and appropriate bone-healing timelines.
Home Exercise Programme: A personalised programme supports continued progress between physiotherapy sessions.
Progress Monitoring: Your rehabilitation is regularly reviewed and progressed according to bone healing, pain, movement, strength, dexterity, and functional improvement.
Why Choose Pure Physio?
Comprehensive Hand Assessment: We assess healing status, pain, swelling, finger movement, thumb function, strength, grip, dexterity, and everyday hand use.
Personalised Rehabilitation Plans: Your programme is tailored to the specific fracture, treatment received, stage of healing, and individual goals.
Safe Exercise Progression: Rehabilitation is progressed carefully according to medical clearance and bone-healing requirements.
Restore Finger and Thumb Mobility: We help address stiffness and gradually improve comfortable hand movement.
Improve Hand Strength: Progressive exercises help rebuild grip, pinch, and overall hand strength.
Support Fine Motor Recovery: Treatment focuses on improving dexterity and the precise movements needed for everyday activities.
Functional Recovery Focus: Therapy targets practical tasks needed at home, work, and in daily life.
Post-Immobilisation Rehabilitation: We support recovery after a splint, cast, or brace.
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation: Structured rehabilitation is provided following fracture fixation when required.
Work and Sport Rehabilitation: Treatment can be adapted to your occupation, hobbies, and sporting goals.
Home Exercise Guidance: You receive a personalised programme to support consistent progress outside your appointments.
Regular Progress Monitoring: Your rehabilitation is reviewed and adjusted as healing and function improve.
Integrated Care Approach: We work alongside orthopaedic specialists, surgeons, hand specialists, and other healthcare professionals when required.
Focused on Long-Term Hand Function: Our goal is to reduce pain and stiffness, restore comfortable movement, rebuild strength and dexterity, and help you safely return to the activities that matter most.
Start Your Recovery Journey Today
Don’t let pain, stiffness, or reduced mobility affect your daily life. Get personalised physiotherapy care designed around your condition and recovery goals.