How To Treat Boxer's Fracture

Splint Or Cast The Injured Hand

Once diagnosed with a boxer's fracture, patients will likely be provided with a splint or cast for the injured hand they'll be required to wear until the bone has healed properly. This treatment method is used for all fractures that don't immediately require some form of surgery. The goal of any cast or splint is to immobilize the broken bone so the injury doesn't worsen. If the patient's hand isn't properly immobilized following a fracture, using their hand before the bone has healed can lead to damage in the surrounding tendons, nerves, ligaments, and muscles. When individuals have been told to splint or cast the injured hand, it is important to keep the cast dry while they are wearing it so it doesn't lose its strength. If the fracture swells too much, it's possible patients will experience some pain directly under the cast. If such an issue occurs, patients should contact their doctor to determine if their cast should be loosened or removed.

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Surgical Repair

Surgical repair is only necessary if the fracture is severe enough to warrant it. In most cases, the other treatment options on this list will be sufficient enough to properly heal the fracture and relieve pain. If these treatments have not been as effective as a patient had hoped, their doctor may recommend a form of surgery to make sure their hand heals properly. Surgical repair is most commonly used for a boxer's fracture when the bone breaks through the skin or there are several fractures in the same area. If an individual's occupation or a hobby they enjoy requires them to use their hands for very precise motor skills, they might want to consider surgery to make sure the bone heals to the exact position it was in before the break. An activity like playing the piano can require precise motor skills. The surgery used for a boxer's fracture places small pins within the skin to secure the bone in its correct position until the area has healed fully.

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