Hand Injuries

A hand injury frequently arises from trauma, such as a car accident, motorcycle accident, slip and fall accident, bicycle accident, or recreational injury. Depending on the cause of the injury, injured persons may have legal rights to be compensated for their injury, including money damages for pain and suffering, disability, medical bills, and lost wages.

Hand injuries cause swelling, pain, stiffness, and sometimes limited movement. The most common injuries are tears (ruptures) of ligaments or fractures of bone. When a ligament is ruptured, bones can move out of position, resulting in a dislocated joint

Gamekeeper's thumb is a rupture of the ligament on the palm side of the thumb, which is responsible for pinching movements. It usually results from a fall that jams the thumb backward onto a hard surface. Treatment usually consists of a splint, but surgery is sometimes necessary.

Rupture of the scapholunate ligament may result from falling on an outstretched hand. Pain is felt mostly on top of the wrist. Treatment consists of surgical repair of the ligament and pinning of the bones.

Scaphoid fractures are a common type of wrist fracture. Tenderness is felt in the wrist below the thumb. Untreated scaphoid fractures often do not heal, eventually leading to arthritis of the wrist. Treatment consists of a cast or surgery.

Dislocations may occur at the joint at the base of the thumb or other fingers or at the middle joints of the fingers. Dislocations usually result when the thumb is bent too far out or the fingers are bent too far back. Surgery is often required to correct dislocations at the base of the thumb or fingers. Dislocations of the middle joints may be treated by taping the dislocated finger to an adjacent finger. It the ligament is badly torn, a splint is used.

Fractures of the hook of hamate may result from striking the ground with a stick or making a divot playing golf. The lower part of the palm below the little finger is tender. The hand is put in a cast, but the fracture may not fully heal. If unhealed fracture causes pain, weakness, or numbness of the little finger, surgery to remove the unattached part of the bone may be necessary.

Sometimes doctors can diagnose a hand injury by examining the hand. A local anesthetic may be given before the examination, which otherwise might be too painful. However, x-rays may be needed to determine whether the joint is unstable and to detect fractures. Occasionally, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is needed. Often, an untreated injury can result in a permanent deformity of the hand. Therefore, an injured hand should be immobilized so that it can heal normally. A bandage, splint, or cast may be used, depending on the injury.

Surgery is sometimes necessary if bones are out of position or a joint is unstable or if there has been a laceration to a tendon or nerve in the hand. Hand exercises are begun as soon as possible to prevent loss of function.

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