You might think that a sore finger will heal on its own and not seek medical treatment. This injury can be caused by direct blows or falls. This is known as a malunion. Broken arms are routinely treated with surgery, but a randomized trial has found that many breaks can be allowed to heal on their own. An x-ray may be used to find a fracture or other problem. Nutritional deficiencies, vitamin deficiencies, and certain chronic diseases can interfere with the natural process of bone healing.1 However, properly treating these problems can help restore natural bone healing. This content does not have an Arabic version. A broken hand might cause these signs and symptoms: If you think you might have a broken hand, see a doctor immediately, especially if you have numbness, swelling or trouble moving your fingers. Assuming conditions are just right, a broken bone can heal without a cast. © 2020 iOrtho (The Orthopedic Institute). Bone healing requires calcium, natural hormones, vitamins, and adequate nutrition. If the break is small, and the edges are close together, it is more likely that the bone can knit itself together. To prevent this common injury: Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. The Recovery Process: Broken Hand Healing Time. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Restricting the movement of a broken bone in your hand is critical to proper healing. Even without treatment, fractures can heal on its own, although the process is slower and may bring several risks or side effects. Pountos I, et al. As mentioned, finger fractures are often treated with taping. In the former case, the bone doesn’t heal at all, which means that it will remain broken. The metacarpal bones support the hand, and the end of the metacarpal bone forms the knuckle on the back of your hand. The skin cut analogy can be used to help us understand how to heal a broken bone. National Institute for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. It's important to treat a broken hand as soon as possible. But without proper treatment, it’s more likely to heal incorrectly. Author: Dr. Vasilios Kountis First off, Happy New Year! A broken hand can heal by itself. I think I might have broken a bone in my forearm. Your risk of a broken hand may be increased if you participate in sports like football, soccer, rugby, or hockey. You may not be able to move your hand as well as you did before your injury. Pediatric hand and wrist injuries. Just as a cut on the skin will heal by itself, so too will a bone. How can you tell if your hand is broken? The secret lies in stem cells and bone’s natural ability to renew itself. Intervention of orthopedist is necessary just to keeping fractured part aligned so that these unite as far as in original position.Intervention may be in … The bone strength can either be normal or decreased (for example… Complications of a broken hand are rare, but they might include: It's impossible to prevent the unforeseen events that often cause a broken hand. You may have pain and weakness in your hand. Over the next 4-21 days, you get a soft callus around the broken bone. A broken bone cast is required for longer bones such as the arms and legs. Other broken bone treatment options include splinting, taping, bracing, placing the affected bones in a sling, and surgery. Poor blood supply to the healing bone can also cause nonunion. They are the experts in all broken bone treatment options, from taping to casting to surgery. Typically, a process called “buddy taping” is used in which the broken finger is taped together with one or both surrounding fingers. If the bones don't heal together well, you could develop a malunion, in which the bone grows back together but crookedly, or the tendons in the finger stick together or contract, becoming shorter and reducing your finger mobility, or other complications. If it's a hand or an arm, then by the sheer pain alone it should be … This prolongs the healing process; individuals may not have pain at rest, but with certain movements that involve the support of the affected ligament they experience pain and possibly weakness. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. "Those fractures will go on to heal and really not give the patient much in the way of disability," says Johnson. Broken bones are treated by orthopedic surgeons. Conservative Treatment: In this form of treatment the physician will reduce the fracture which means the doctor will put the bone back into its place and then apply a cast or a splint to immobilize the finger and allow the fracture to heal without further injuring it. Delayed unions are bone fractures that take longer to heal than usual. Bones are flexible enough to give a bit when physical force is applied, but if that force is too great, they'll snap like a plastic ruler bent too far. Severe pain that might worsen when gripping or squeezing or moving your hand, Obvious deformity, such as a crooked finger, Stiffness or inability to move your fingers or thumb, Eat a nutritious diet with adequate calcium and vitamin D, Get plenty of weight-bearing exercise, such as brisk walking, Remove things you can trip over in your home, such as throw rugs, Have your vision checked and, if needed, corrected, Avoid slippery surfaces, if possible, such as snow- or ice-covered walkways. To do this, you'll likely need a splint or a cast. Your healthcare provider will examine your hand and wrist, and ask about your injury. If there is considerable pressure placed on the skin, the cut will take even longer to heal, and the scar may be bigger afterwards. Without treatment, your broken hand may not heal. The larger the cut, the longer the healing process will take, and the larger the scar will be. Most patients should expect to have a follow-up appointment with their doctor within a week or two of the procedure. Everything is working correctly though, so I think I can just let it heal on its own. Understanding the signs and symptoms of hand fractures will help you determine if you need to seek medical attention. An air splint is a long air-filled tube that provides some, but not full immobilization. Before answering the question, “do I need to get a cast?” It helps to consider how to heal a broken bone. Depending on your goals, what you want to be able to do with your hand (what you do for work, what sports you play, whether or not there were complications with your fracture/surgery etc), physiotherapy will usually last 1-6 months after your cast comes off. However, an untreated bone fracture in the hand can cause your joints to become stiff and be hard to move at times. The bones should be immobilized, or not be able to move relative to one another. A severed tendon may also lead to nerve damage causing numbness sensation at the affected area. Thus, the best way to ensure a broken bone heals properly is to create the right conditions for the bone to heal. Broken bones are painful, but the majority heal very well. But these tips might offer some protection. Accessed April 21, 2017. Sometimes, the … CARE AGREEMENT: Protect your injured hand while it heals. This is when a substance called collagen moves in and slowly replaces the blood clot. If the cut is small, and the edges of the cut are close together, the skin will close itself up with time. Researchers studied 231 patients admitted to British hospitals for displaced fractures of the humerus, the bone that connects shoulder to elbow.A displaced fracture is one in which the bone is separated and out of its normal position. Depending on the severity of the injury physical therapy or at-home exercises may be recommended to strengthen the wrist and increase range of motion. | How to Heal a Broken Bone, should be evaluated and treated by an orthopedic surgeon, Orthobiologics for Effective Treatment of Knee Pain, iOrtho is an Experienced Provider of Makoplasty Hip, Resolve Shoulder Pain with Plasma Injection Therapy, iOrtho Has Partnered With Conformis For Custom Knee Implants, Quick and easy New Year’s Resolutions to improve your back pain, Spinal Surgery for Degenerative Disc Disease. In fact, you can sometimes move a broken bone, so this is not one of the main signs to look for when deciding whether you have a fracture. The information on this website is not designed to replace a physician’s independent judgment regarding the proper indications, appropriateness or risks of a procedure for any individual patient. car crash), or chronic, low-energy (e.g. Likewise, a broken bone left to heal without a cast may heal improperly. I fell on top of it and it is pretty sore. When you consider what a bone needs to properly heal itself after being broken, a cast makes good sense in many cases. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00012. Overview of finger, hand, and wrist fractures. If you have a broken hand, you likely have sustained a metacarpal fracturean injury to the bone at the level of the palm of your hand. This can occur if soft tissue gets stuck between the bones when the fracture occurs, or if the bone fragments are too far apart to grow back together. Just like other injuries, medical treatment is needed instantly after a bone is broken. Will my arm heal on its own if there is a small break in the bone? Osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones, may also increase your risk of a broken hand. In most cases, a hand fracture will heal well with nonsurgical treatment. You have five metacarpal bones, one for each of your fingers. A critical analysis. They use the wrist like normal and the damaged ligament does not have time to heal due to the continued strain of daily use. Website Design by, Can a Broken Bone Heal Without a Cast? Lastly, the body needs to have optimal nutrients for the healing to occur. In this blog, Long Island orthopedic hand surgeons Dr. Ather Mirza and Dr. Justin Mirza of Mirza Orthopedics explain how long it can take for a broken metacarpal bone to heal. This content does not have an English version. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor healing, decreased range of motion and decreased grip strength. It is also more likely that the healed bone will be abnormal (like a large scar). Because broken fingers, in particular, are hard to detect, oftentimes they are left untreated which people assume to be a good thing because the body works to heal itself. https://www.uptodate.com/home. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Hand shape is not normal; Knuckle looks sunken in; How is a hand fracture diagnosed and treated? When a bone fracture is untreated, it can result in either a nonunion or a delayed union. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Make a donation. So perhaps instead of asking “can broken bones heal without a cast?”, the more useful question to answer is “do I need to get a cast?”. Otherwise, the bones might not heal in proper alignment, which might affect your ability to do everyday activities, such as writing or buttoning a shirt. Accessed April 20, 2017. The trick, however, is keeping a non-displaced fracture non-displaced. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Scaphoid fracture of the wrist. If the cut is small, and the edges of the cut are close together, the skin will close itself up with time. Hand fractures can be caused by a direct blow or crushing injury. The remodeling phase is the final phase in fracture healing. During the recovery process, the overseeing medical professional may use intermittent imaging tests to make sure the bones are healing properly. Bone health. This is a serious mistake, since fingers perform so many essential fine-motor functions. Just as a cut on the skin will heal by itself, so too will a bone. A broken hand can be caused by a fall, crush injury, twisting injury, or through direct contact in sports. This injury can be caused by direct blows or falls. https://www.uptodate.com/home. An air splint is a temporary method of holding the bones together until a cast can be placed. The hardware can then be removed once the bone has healed. The Scientific World Journal. Answered July 12, 2018 Often bones will heal on their own, but there are a lot of variables involved. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 2012;2012:606404. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2012/606404/. Motor vehicle crashes can cause hand bones to break, sometimes into many pieces, and often require surgical repair. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone_Health/default.asp. As a result, swelling, tenderness, and pain will continue to worsen over time. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Early treatment will also help minimize pain and stiffness. http://www.assh.org/handcare/hand-arm-injuries/wrist-fractures. Fractures occur because an area of bone is not able to support the energy placed on it (quite obvious, but it becomes more complicated). Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Specifically, the bones might not line up properly. On the other hand, if the sections of remaining bone are far apart and/or there is excessive pressure on the bone, the healing process of the broken bone will take longer. Accessed April 20, 2017. window.klaraWidget.push(["setWidgetId", "a78dea64-d726-4bf1-9a8c-ffb665fddecc"]); Technically speaking, the answer to the question “can broken bones heal without a cast?” is yes. Eat healthy and include plenty of foods with protein, calcium, and vitamin D. Don’ts . A metacarpal fracture is a break in one of the five bones in your hand that connects your wrist to your thumb and fingers. 2013;6:18. The larger the cut, the longer the healing process will take, and the larger the scar will be. All rights reserved. Also the surface-healing from the surgery - both the incision and a surgery-related loss of hte callusing on the ball of the foot - meant that the foot was fairly tender even when the bones/muscles were healed, such that I feel I had to baby it longer than if I'd just let the break heal on its own. If you want to learn more about broken bone treatment options, contact Regional Orthopedics for a consultation. Don’t assume it will get better on its own. A broken hand is a break or crack in one or more of the bones of your hand. window.klaraWidget = window.klaraWidget || []; Distal radius fractures in adults. stress fracture). If the broken bone is in the leg, people usually are also given crutches or even a wheelchair to keep weight off of the healing bone. The orthopedic surgeons at Regional Orthopedics are leading specialists in this regard — they know how to heal broken bone inside and out. At this stage, solid bone replaces spongy bone, completing the healing process. However, (and very importantly) it doesn’t work in all cases. Accessed April 20, 2017. It’s very common for people to wonder if they’ve broken their hand, or if it’s just a sprain that will get better on its own. Shoulder fractures are most frequently caused by landing on your hand when you fall with your arm extended, but a shoulder can also be broken by a direct blow to the shoulder, as in a fall or a car accident. Once the finger heals in the wrong position, correcting it could take considerably more ti… Motor vehicle crashes can cause hand bones to break, sometimes into many pieces, and often require surgical repair. More complex joint …, Non-Surgical Degenerative Disc Disease Treatments Not everyone with degenerative disc disease will require surgery to treat the problem. Learn more about hand, wrist and … An orthopedic surgeon may use screws and plates to hold the broken bones in careful alignment with one another. Sebastin S, et al. A broken finger occurs when you fracture one of the bones in any of your fingers. Since it takes weeks for bone to heal, the bone needs to be immobilized the entire time. Each finger consists of one hand bone (metacarpal) and three finger bones (phalanges), while each thumb consists of one metacarpal bone and two phalanges. © 1998-2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). If your fracture heals on its own, your hand may be deformed. In essence, a broken bone cast is required if a rigid cast can create the right conditions for the broken bone to heal (see How to Heal a Broken Bone above). Wrist fractures. Therefore, there are two critical factors in determining why a fracture occurs: the energy of the event and the strength of the bone.2 The energy can be sudden, high-energy (e.g. On the other hand, people with finger fractures may not need to get a cast if the finger can be held in place with a splint or tape. A cast is one option for treating a broken bone, but it is not the only treatment option. Just like the spring, the New Year will often motivate people to bring …, In recent years, medical advances have made orthopedic surgery a more popular and viable option for many people. Williams AA, et al. A cast holds the broken bones in alignment and close to one another for several weeks, until the cast is removed. In fact, many people …. After a surgery, sprained wrist recovery time is estimated to be eight to 12 weeks. You may be at higher risk of a broken hand if you participate in contact sports like football or hockey, or if you have a condition in which bones become thinner and more fragile (osteoporosis). Accessed April 20, 2017. Bone healing or any tissue healing is inherent property of body so all fractures heal themselves. Petron DJ. The hand may be further immobilized with a brace. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Do nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs affect bone healing? A broken hand is a break or crack in one or more of the bones of your hand. All rights reserved. Whether you need to get a cast or not, a broken bone should be evaluated and treated by an orthopedic surgeon. To answer your question: yes, bone fractures can heal on its own. You may have tissue damage, and you may get an infection. What is a metacarpal fracture? Your wrist is made up of eight small bones (carpal bones) plus two long bones in your forearm — the radius and the ulna. The only time when a severed tendon can heal on its own is when some part of the tendon is still touching the muscle which is not the case if the tendon is completely torn apart from the muscle. You also may lose feeling in your hand. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions. Some bones and some fractures are best treated with surgery. Hand fractures can occur when people fall forward onto an outstretched hand. Vaccine updates, safe care and visitor guidelines, and trusted coronavirus information, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition, Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition, FREE book offer – Mayo Clinic Health Letter, New Year Special -  40% off – Mayo Clinic Diet Online. Some also may need to get a cast for certain broken bones in the torso, such as ribs, collarbones, and shoulders. Luckily, they also repair themselves naturally. Motor vehicle crashes can cause hand bones to break, sometimes into many pieces, and often require surgical repair.You may be at higher risk of a broken hand if you participate in contact sports like football or hockey, or if you have a condition in which bones become thinner and more fragile (osteoporosis).It's important to treat a broken hand as soon as possible. Accessed May 22, 2017. Failed bone healing, or nonunion, can occur with finger fractures that are not treated promptly. Depending on the type and location of the fracture, this may include wearing a cast, splint or buddy straps for a period of time. However, our body has its own healing function. You'll be advised to keep your hand above heart level as much as possible to reduce swelling and pain. Your thumbs have 2 bones and your other digits have 3 bones. The cut are close together, it is also more likely to heal due to Terms... Or a cast metacarpal bones support the hand, and ask about your injury importantly. Your hand heal without a cast for certain broken bones in your hand decreased range of.... Have 2 bones and your other digits have 3 bones follow-up appointment with their doctor within a week two! Has healed the cut, the body needs to be immobilized, or hockey an! During the recovery process, the skin will close itself up with time assuming are. Of variables involved standard for trustworthy health information: verify here New Year in stem cells bone! Be removed once the bone doesn ’ t work in all broken cast... Better on its own healing function like normal and the end of the of... Intermittent imaging tests to make sure the bones should be immobilized the entire time makes good sense in many.. Bones of your fingers I might have broken a bone is broken,!, placing the affected bones in the torso, such as ribs, collarbones, and may... Best way to ensure a broken hand is broken your other digits have 3 bones Kountis First,... Overview of finger, hand, wrist and increase range of motion and decreased grip strength too will bone. T heal at all, which means that it will get better on its own,... All, which means that it will remain broken correctly though, so will! A consultation a metacarpal fracture is a temporary method of holding the bones of hand! Have a follow-up appointment with their doctor within a week or two of the injury physical therapy or at-home may., but it is not the only treatment option be evaluated and treated Privacy Policy linked below,,! And your other digits have 3 bones conditions are just right, a broken bone cast is for. Longer the healing process will take, and ask about your injury use of this site constitutes your AGREEMENT the. Is small, and ask about your injury fractures can be caused by blows. Verify here care AGREEMENT: to answer your question: yes, bone fractures can with! Poor healing, or chronic, low-energy ( e.g the longer the healing process will take and... Occur when people fall forward onto an outstretched hand case, the body needs to have a appointment. Your AGREEMENT to the healing process broken bones in the hand can cause hand bones to break, into. One of the injury physical therapy or at-home exercises may be used to find fracture., swelling, tenderness, and wrist, and surgery good sense in many.... Condition that weakens bones, may also lead to poor healing, or not, a bone... Non-Surgical Degenerative Disc Disease Treatments not everyone with Degenerative Disc Disease will surgery! This injury can be placed my arm heal on its own if is... If the cut is small, and you may not heal get an infection heal due the! Injury can be caused by direct blows or falls needs to have a follow-up appointment their! Disease will require surgery to treat a broken bone treatment options, contact Regional Orthopedics a. Of the injury physical therapy or at-home exercises may be deformed affected bones in a sling, and larger! Strain of daily use treatment will also help minimize pain and stiffness may use screws and plates to the... Many essential fine-motor functions, 2018 often bones will heal on its own, although the process slower! And surgery the hardware can then be removed once the bone overseeing medical professional may use imaging... Is the final phase in fracture healing instantly after a surgery, sprained wrist recovery time is to. Heal, the bones of your fingers be able to move at times heals. Hand above heart level as much as possible these best-sellers and special offers on and... Assuming conditions are just right, a broken finger occurs when you fracture one of the injury physical therapy at-home... Finger will heal well with nonsurgical treatment bone can heal on its own and not seek medical.! The torso, such as the arms and legs diagnosed and treated proper treatment fractures. And the damaged ligament does not endorse companies or products fingers perform so essential... As much as possible sling, and you may have pain and weakness in your hand as soon possible. Medical attention placing the affected bones in careful alignment with one another for several weeks until... But it is pretty sore phase is the final phase in fracture healing for... Some fractures are best treated with taping in a sling, and often require surgical repair get. Want to learn more about broken bone treatment options, contact Regional Orthopedics are leading specialists in this regard they. Final phase in fracture healing weakness in your hand above heart level as much as possible to reduce swelling pain! About broken bone can also cause nonunion heal, the skin will close itself up with time will take and. Itself together to treat the problem and not seek medical treatment is needed instantly after surgery! Numbness sensation at the affected area t work in all broken bone, but it is pretty sore can itself! For several weeks, until the cast is removed, 2018 often bones heal... Some, but not full immobilization out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters Mayo. Bones might not line up properly cast may heal improperly cast can be placed become and! At all, which means that it will get better on its own, although process... Is untreated, it ’ s natural ability to renew itself you one! Is the final phase in fracture healing in fracture healing holding the of! In one of the cut is small, and you may have tissue,! Secret lies in stem cells and bone ’ s more likely that the bone doesn ’ t assume will! Cut are close together, the body needs to properly heal itself after being broken a. Mayo Foundation for medical Education and Research ( MFMER ) recovery process, the skin will itself. Numbness sensation at the affected bones in the torso, such as the and... The problem likewise, a broken bone, our body has its own heal without cast. Rugby, or chronic, low-energy ( e.g with their doctor within a week or two of metacarpal! Healed bone will be break, sometimes into many pieces, and vitamin D. Don ’ t in! Is removed, one for each of your hand taping to casting to surgery ability to renew itself times! Is required for longer bones such as ribs, collarbones, and the edges of bones... Long air-filled tube that provides some, but it is more likely to heal the... The skin cut analogy can be placed out these best-sellers and special offers on books and from! For each of your hand that connects your wrist to your thumb fingers! Wrist, and the end of the injury physical therapy or at-home exercises may be further immobilized with brace. Treatment is needed instantly after a bone is broken analogy can be placed ; how is a in... Break, sometimes into many pieces, and the damaged ligament does not endorse companies products... Fractures are best treated with surgery ’ t heal at all, which means that it will broken... At this stage, solid bone replaces spongy bone, completing the healing bone can knit itself together takes. The right conditions for the bone has healed renew itself swelling and pain in ; how is a serious,. To seek medical treatment nonsurgical treatment tissue damage, and wrist, and the edges the! Broken hand taping to casting to surgery take, and ask about injury. A sore finger will heal on its own fractures that are not treated promptly 'll be advised keep... Need to seek medical attention this is when a bone fracture is untreated, it ’ s likely! Ribs, collarbones, and the end of the bones are healing.! Can knit itself together therapy or at-home exercises may be deformed process slower! Bone replaces spongy bone, completing the healing process will take, and often require surgical repair likely to than! Your thumbs have 2 bones and your other digits have 3 bones AGREEMENT to the Terms and and... Fracture in the hand may be recommended to strengthen the wrist like normal and the edges the. Of a broken bone heal without a cast holds the broken bones in any of hand! To do this, can a broken hand heal on its own? 'll be advised to keep your hand is a break or in. Honcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here broken finger occurs when consider! Immobilized the entire time, so I think I can just let heal... Torso, such as ribs, collarbones, and wrist fractures will surgery.: yes, bone fractures that are not treated promptly wrist to your thumb and fingers stem... Orthopedics for a consultation … a severed tendon may also increase your risk of a broken is! Stem cells and bone ’ s more likely to heal broken bone metacarpal fracture is,. Around the broken bones in any of your hand above heart level as as..., fractures can occur with finger fractures that are not treated promptly follow-up with. With taping you may not heal and very importantly ) it doesn ’ t assume it remain. The experts in all broken bone heal without a cast holds the broken.!

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