Broken Hand

Take the Pain Quiz! 12k500

Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

View Full Profile

• Broken Hand Overview
• Picture of the Bones in the Hand
• Broken Hand Causes
• Broken Hand Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care for a Broken Hand
• Broken Hand Diagnosis
• Broken Hand Treatment
• Broken Hand Self-Care at Home
• Broken Hand Medical Treatment
• Broken Hand Follow-up
• Broken Hand Prevention
• Broken Hand Prognosis
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Author and Editor
• Viewer Comments: Broken Hand - Causes

Broken Hand Overview

The hand is a marvelously complex part of the human anatomy. Every year, however, millions of people experience broken bones within their hands. Because we are so dependent on our hands, even a small loss of function can result in a lifelong disability. A broken hand will often require a visit to a doctor, and it may require months of rehabilitation care.

• The hand is composed of 27 bones, including those in the wrist. Broken bones most commonly result from a direct blow to or by the hand, or a fall onto the hand. Common injuries include fractures of the fingertip, broken knuckles, or fractures of the thumb.
• When doctors describe the bones in the hand, they use several terms.
• Carpals or carpal bones are the 8 bones in the wrist. They are not actually part of the hand but are vital for its function.
• Metacarpals are the 5 bones that form the palm of the hand.
• Phalanges are the 14 small bones that, when strung together, form the thumb and fingers. The thumb has 2 phalanges. The other 4 fingers are made of 3 phalanges each.
• The knuckles of the hand are referred to as the MCP joint, which stands for metacarpal-phalangeal joint (because the fingers, composed of phalanges, join the palm, made of metacarpals).
• The joints in the fingers are called the PIP and DIP joints. The PIP joint is the proximal interphalangeal joint and is the joint closest to the palm. The DIP joint is the distal interphalangeal joint and is the joint closest to the fingertip.
• The fingers are called the thumb, index finger, middle (or long) finger, ring finger, and pinky (or small) finger. Sometimes your health care practitioner might refer to your fingers by number, in which case the 1^st digit is the thumb, and the small finger is the 5^th digit.
• The handedness (right or left) of the person is called the dominance of the hand. If you are left-handed, then you are left-hand dominant.

Picture of the Bones in the Hand

Broken Hand Causes

Hand injuries are caused by workplace injuries, improper use of tools, blunt trauma to the had (punching or striking injuries) crush injuries, falls, and sports injuries. The vast majority of hand injuries can be prevented.