A Patient's Guide to Thumb Metacarpal FracturesAnatomy
Signs and Symptoms
EvaluationThe primary goal of the clinical evaluation of a thumb metacarpal fracture is to determine the pattern of the fracture. Based on the fracture pattern, your surgeon will need to decide if 1) the fracture is in stable alignment and can be simply protected in a cast or brace until it heals, 2) the fracture pattern can be reduced (or manipulated) to a stable alignment without surgery and held with a cast or brace until it heals or 3) surgery will be necessary to align the fracture fragments and fix the fragments with some combination of metal pins, metal plates, and metal screws. The fracture is evaluated by taking several x-rays of the hand and thumb. Your surgeon will pay particular attention to fractures that involve the joint between the trapezium and the base of the thumb metacarpal. These fractures can both affect the stability of the joint and damage the joint surface, leading to weakness or continued pain after the fracture heals. You may hear your surgeon refer to these fractures by name: Bennett's Fracture or Rolando's Fracture (named after the physicians who initially described the fractures). These fractures commonly require surgery to repair the joint surface. Treatment
Complications
Rehabilitation
|
Back to Topic List
A Patient's Guide to Thumb Metacarpal Fractures<