To diagnose a hand fracture correctly, a patient will receive a physical examination by a trained professional, followed by a referral for X-rays, and in more complicated cases, CT and MRI scans may also be necessary for assessing soft tissue damage.
All of these methods are essential in ensuring that the right and most appropriate treatment for hand fractures is provided so complete healing and full movement can be regained by the patient.
In this post, we look at hand fracture diagnosis in more detail, as well as what is involved in an x-ray and why you might be referred for a CT scan on your hand.
Fracture of the hand diagnosis
There are 27 bones in the hand, and unfortunately, hand fractures and sprains are incredibly common.
This is not surprising as we use our hands every day, making them more vulnerable to injury.
High-force impact on the hands can weaken the bone, and therapy may be required to help patients keep their bones resilient and strong.
The good news is that if you suspect you have a problem associated with your hand, there are a range of treatments available to help regain and keep full movement.
However, in order for your hand to heal correctly, you need to fully understand what is going on, which means you need a thorough and accurate diagnosis.
Types of fractures of the hand
- Comminated – in this instance, the bone is shattered into pieces
- Compound fractures – bone sticks out of the skin
- Greenstick fracture – there is a partial break on one side of the bone
- Boxers fracture diagnosis – the metacarpal bone is broken, and the knuckle has sunken
- Impacted fractures – one bone is broken and is pushing into another bone
- Intra articular fractures – the break extends into the surface of a joint.
- Longitudinal fractures – the fracture runs the entire length of the impacted bone.
- Pathological fractures – there may be an underlying condition that is weakening the bones in the hand and causing fractures to occur.
- Spiral fractures – part of the bone is twisted.
- Stable fractures – the bone is broken, but the two broken parts still align with each other
- Stress fracture – the most common type of fracture in athletes; here, the bone can simply just give way.
Symptoms of a hand fracture
Signs that you may have a hand fracture include:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Deformity
- Numbness
- Stiffness
- Limited movement in hand and fingers
- Pain and tenderness.
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important that you seek hand fracture treatment as soon as possible.
Hand fracture diagnosis
After a physical examination of your hand, you may be referred for an x-ray to further determine and diagnose accurately:
- Broken bones (fractures)
- Foreign objects in the soft tissue
- Arthritis
- Tumours
- Abnormal bone growth
X-rays will provide black-and-white images outlining the makeup of a patient’s hand. X-rays are quick and easy, and for the patient, relatively painless (there may be some discomfort when positioning your hand on the X-ray table, but this should not be too severe).
The radiographer will position the hand where required in order to take the correct X-ray picture showing the inner structure of your hand.
For context, bones will show up on an X-ray as white, whereas muscle, fat, and organs will appear grey.
To achieve the right fracture of the hand diagnosis, x-rays will use electromagnetic waves to create an image of the inside of the human body. X-rays are one of the most commonly used pieces of technology to help with the diagnosis of certain conditions and are one of the oldest types of medical imagery.
A trained and fully qualified radiologist will conduct the x-ray, where small beams of radiation will pass through your body to produce the final image.
Note: If you have any serious medical conditions or are pregnant at the time of an x-ray, it is important to inform your consultant as soon as possible so appropriate arrangements can be made.
In some instances, x-rays may not be clear enough or come back as inconclusive, meaning no accurate hand fracture diagnosis can be provided. In such instances, patients may then be referred for a CT or MRI scan.
These types of scans help hand specialists obtain a more detailed picture of the hand and can be used to provide a fracture of the hand diagnosis of scaphoid fractures and more complex breaks.
Providing a 3D view of the bones, soft tissue, and even blood vessels in the hand, CT and MRI scans can be invaluable in ensuring tailored treatment.
Fracture of the hand treatment
Hand and fracture treatment is our specialty at Ladan Hajipur. We work with all of our patients to correctly diagnose all types of fractures and tailor a treatment plan to your care needs.
We understand that hand and wrist fractures are not only painful; they can also be debilitating. And we know that the correct diagnosis is the first step in identifying the right course of treatment.
That’s why we offer specialist treatment that allows us to tailor solutions to you.
If you’re experiencing any type of hand or wrist pain, or you’ve been involved in an accident
or fall, please book an appointment with us today and let us help you become pain-free and regain full movement.