Hand Fracture

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 4 min read
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Article Summary

Hand fracture means the injury, dislocation, fracture, or breaks of the bone of the hand with injury of tendon, cartilage, ligament, and soft tissue laceration. You may have difficulty using your hands or wrist along with numbness and tingling in the fingers. There may be a pain as you try to move your fingers, especially when trying to grip an object. Bruising is also a...

Key Takeaways

  • This article explains Anatomy of Hand in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Injury and Fracture of hand in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Symptoms in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Diagnosis in simple medical language.
Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.
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Hand fracture means the injury, dislocation, fracture, or breaks of the bone of the hand with injury of tendon, cartilage, ligament, and soft tissue laceration. You may have difficulty using your hands or wrist along with numbness and tingling in the fingers. There may be a pain as you try to move your fingers, especially when trying to grip an object. Bruising is also a very common symptom associated with wrist fractures. Hand injuries come about for various reasons, including work, trauma, overuse, or sports. The three most common hand injuries are fractures/avulsions, tendinitis, and dislocations/deformities.

Anatomy of Hand

Muscles

  • Muscles that act at the Wrist
    • Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus
    • Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis
    • Extensor Carpi Ulnaris
    • Flexor Carpi Radialis
    • Flexor Carpi Ulnaris
    • Palmaris Longus
  • Extrinsic hand muscles act on the wrist and the digits
    • Extrinsic Hand Muscles
      • Extensor Digitorum
      • Extensor Indicis
      • Extensor Digiti Minimi
      • Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
      • Flexor Digitorum Profundus
    • Extrinsic Thumb Muscles
      • Flexor Pollicis Longus
      • Extensor Pollicis Longus
      • Extensor Pollicis Brevis
      • Abductor Pollicis Longus
      • Abductor Pollicis Brevis
  • Intrinsic Hand Muscles
    • Thenar Muscles
      • Abductor Pollicis Brevis
      • Flexor Pollicis Brevis
      • Opponens Pollicis
      • Adductor Pollicis
    • Hypothenar Muscles
      • Opponens Digiti Minimi
      • Flexor Digiti Minimi brevis
      • Abductor Digiti Minimi
    • Lumbricals
    • Dorsal Interossei
    • Palmar Interossei

Bones

  • Radius
  • Ulna
  • Scaphoid
  • Lunate
  • Triquetrum
  • Pisiform
  • Trapezium
  • Trapezoid
  • Capitate
  • Hamate
  • Metacarpals
  • Phalanges (Hand)
    • Proximal Phalanx (Hand)
    • Middle Phalanx (Hand)
    • Distal Phalanx (Hand)

Joints

  • Distal Radioulnar Joint (Wrist)
  • Intercarpal Joint
  • Carpometacarpal Joint
  • Metacarpophalangeal Joint
  • Proximal Interphalangeal Joint (Hand)
  • Distal Interphalangeal Joint (Hand)
  • Ulnocarpal Joint

Ligaments

  • Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC)
  • Scapholunate Ligament
  • Lunotriquetral Ligament
  • Capitolunate Ligament
  • Radiotriquetral Ligament
  • Ulnar Collateral Ligament (Thumb)
  • Transverse Carpal Ligament
  • Pisohamate Ligament
  • Volar Carpal Ligament

Nerves

  • Ulnar Nerve
  • Median Nerve
    • Anterior Interosseus Nerve
  • Radial Nerve
    • Posterior Interosseus Nerve

Vascular Supply

  • Needs to be updated

Other Anatomic Structures

  • Carpal Tunnel
  • Guyons Canal
  • Volar Plate
  • Extensor Tendon Compartments
  • Nail Bed Anatomy

Injury and Fracture of hand

  • Fractures
    • Phalanx Fractures (Hand)
    • Metacarpal Fractures
      • Boxer’s Fracture
      • Rolando Fracture
      • Bennett Fracture
  • Dislocations
    • Metacarpophalangeal Joint Dislocation
    • Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Dislocation
    • Distal Interphalangeal Joint Dislocation
    • Carpometacarpal Joint Dislocation
  • Tendinopathies
    • Extensor Tendon Injuries (Hand)
    • Central Slip Extensor Tendon Injury
    • Flexor Tendon Injuries (Hand)
    • Boutonniere Deformity
    • Swan Neck Deformity
    • Jersey Finger
    • Mallet Finger
    • Trigger Finger
    • De Quervains Tenosynovitis
  • Ligament Injuries
    • Gamekeepers Thumb (UCL)
    • Radial Collateral Ligament of the Thumb Injury (RCL)
    • Volar Plate Avulsion Injury
  • Neuropathies
    • Wartenberg’s Syndrome
    • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • Guyon Canal Syndrome
  • Arthropathies
    • Carpometacarpal pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">Arthritis
    • Finger pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">Arthritis
    • autoimmune joint disease causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. সহজ বাংলা: রোগপ্রতিরোধ ব্যবস্থার ভুল আক্রমণে জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="rheumatoid arthritis" data-rx-definition="Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune joint disease causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. সহজ বাংলা: রোগপ্রতিরোধ ব্যবস্থার ভুল আক্রমণে জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Nail Bed Injuries
    • Nail Bed Lacerations
    • Nail Bed Avulsions
    • Subungual Hematoma
    • Paronychia
    • Felon
  • Pediatric Considerations
    • Proximal Phalanx Avulsion Fracture (Thumb)
    • Middle and Distal Phalanx Avulsion Fracture
  • Other
    • Dupuytrens Contracture

Symptoms

A broken hand might cause these signs and symptoms:
  1. Severe swelling, or bruising over the top of the bone, numbness or tingling. A “cracking” (not “popping”) sound at the time of the injury. The area looks lopsided or “deformed,” or the bone is poking through
  2. Severe pain that might worsen when gripping or squeezing or moving your hand.
  3. Swelling.
  4. Tenderness.
  5. Bruising.
  6. Obvious deformity, such as a crooked finger.
  7. Stiffness or inability to move your fingers or thumb.
  8. Numbness in your hand or fingers.
  9. Hand pain and tenderness to touch (over the back of the hand or palm)
  10. Hand swelling.
  11. Hand bruising.
  12. Hand pain / grinding when making a fist.
  13. Hand deformity (fingers may not line up normally when making a fist)

Diagnosis

Physical examination of the Hand

  • Follows the IP-PASS examination methodology
    • Inspection
    • Palpation
    • Passive Range of Motion
    • Active Range of Motion
    • Strength & Neurovascular
    • Special Tests

Inspection

  • Skin
    • Color: erythema, ecchymosis, pallor, black
    • Trophic changes (altered hair growth, sweat production)
    • Scars
  • Swelling
  • Muscle tone
    • Thenar atrophy: Median Nerve injury
    • Interosseus atrophy: Ulnar Nerve Injury
  • Deformity
    • Asymmetry
    • Radial or ulnar deviation
    • Rotation
    • Amputation
    • Arthritic nodes
    • Boutonniere
    • Swan Neck
  • Angulation: Cascade Sign

Palpation

  • Joint Effusion
  • Clicking
  • Snapping
  • Crepitus
  • Tenderness
  • Temperature
  • Masses

Range of Motion

  • Finger
    • MCP: 0° – 85°
    • PIP: 0° – 110°
    • DIP: 0° – 65°
  • Wrist
    • Flexion: 60°
    • Extension: 60°
    • Radioulnar Deviation: 50°

Strength and Neurovascular

  • Sensation
    • Recommend: 2 point discrimination (use paper clip)
    • Light touch
  • Motor:
    • Median Nerve: “A-OK” sign: flexion of thumb and index finger or thumb and pinky against resistance
    • Ulnar Nerve: Test fingers against resistance in abduction
    • Radial Nerve: Test thumb extension against resistance
  • Vascular
    • Radial pulse
    • Ulnar pulse
    • Allen’s Test

Special Tests

  • De Quervains Tenosynovitis
    • Finkelstein’s Test
    • Eichhoff’s Test
  • Central Slip Extensor Tendon Injury
    • Elson’s Test
  • Gamekeeper’s Thumb
    • UCL Stress Test (Thumb)
  • TFCC Injury
    • TFCC Shear Test
    • TFCC Stress Test
  • Wartenbergs Syndrome
    • Tinel’s Test
    • Finkelstein’s Test
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • Tinels Test
    • Phalens Test
    • Durkans Test
  • Scapholunate Instability
    • Scaphoid Shift Test
  • Lunotriquetral Instability
    • Reagans Test
    • Kleinmans Shear Test
  • Distal Radial Ulnar Joint Instability
    • Piano Key Test
  • Carpometacarpal Arthritis
    • Thumb CMC Grind Test
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