The wrist joint is composed of the ends of the two major bones in the forearm (the radius and ulna) that meet the 8 small carpal bones of the hand. The hand has 27 individual bones: the 8 carpal bones (at the base of the hand), 5 metacarpal bones (in the middle part) and 14 phalanges (finger bones). These multiple bones and joints are connected to each other by ligaments and tendons. Injuries to the hand are very common and can be very complicated.
Delayed specialist care of hand injuries can potentially cause issues with future function and movement. Therefore, if and hand injury occurs, we recommend seeking medical care rapidly. Access Ortho will provide a full assessment of your injury and subsequent expert care.
Common Hand / Wrist injuries
- Wrist injury – fractured/broken wrist
- Distal radius fracture, ulnar fracture, ulnar styloid process fracture, Colles fracture
- Greenstick/buckle fracture
- Finger fracture/dislocation/break
- Proximal Interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) / Distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) dislocation
- Proximal/distal/middle phalangeal fracture
- Phalangeal dislocation/fracture
- Mallet finger
- Volar plate injury
- Central slip injury
- Gamekeepers/skier’s thumb, Stener lesion, Ulna collateral Ligament (UCL), Radial Collateral Ligament (RCL)
- Ligament injury/strain/sprain
- Metacarpal fracture/break – head, shaft, base
- Boxer’s fracture/break
- Scaphoid fracture
- Scapholunate dislocation/ligament injuries
- Carpal bone fractures/breaks : lunate, triquetrum, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, and hamate.
- Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tear
Symptoms of Wrist / Hand Injury
- Pain
- Swelling
- Deformity of the wrist / hand / fingers
- Bruising
- Tingling / numbness
- Pain on movement
- Inability to move through full range of motion
- Tenderness to touch
Hand injuries at Access Ortho will be assessed by our medical staff with focused observation, palpation, and measurement of the range of movement and muscle strength at each joint. Any required radiology to assist in the diagnosis of your injury will be arranged. Treatment may include casting, wrist / hand splints, sling or a referral for a custom-made specialist hand splint, and hand therapy. In addition to initiating the above treatments, should surgery be required, Access Ortho will assist with this referral process to a specialist upper limb and hand surgeon.
As well as standard plaster of paris and fibreglass casts, Access Ortho has a full range of upper limb EXOS casts of varying sizes, to immobilise fractures. These are thermoplastic casts that are light weight and water resistant. They are moulded to fit the individual arm and hand and can be remoulded to refit if swelling increases or decreases. They can be removed for shower privileges at the direction of the medical team. They do not need to be removed for X-ray.