Healing time of metacarpal fracture

I believe some friends have had such an experience, that is, metacarpal fracture, which is mostly caused by direct violence such as blow or crushing injury, and can be a single or multiple metacarpal fractures. The most common fracture types are transverse and comminuted fractures, while oblique or spiral fractures may also occur due to torsion and indirect violence. Treatment requires both adequate fixation and appropriate early movement, which is conducive to the recovery of hand function.

Due to the different injuries in different parts of the body, the healing time varies to a certain extent. A fracture refers to a partial break in bone due to external force or pathological reasons. It is divided into partial fracture and complete fracture. Its main manifestations are localized pain and tenderness at the fracture site, local swelling and ecchymosis, partial or complete loss of limb function, and complete bone fractures may also cause limb deformities and abnormal activities. It is more common in children and the elderly, but also occurs occasionally in young and middle-aged people. Patients often have a fracture in one location, and a few have multiple fractures. With timely and appropriate treatment, most patients can recover their original functions, but a few patients may have sequelae of varying degrees. The recovery time for a metacarpal fracture is approximately 70 days. It is mostly caused by direct violence such as blow or crush injury, and may be a single or multiple metacarpal fractures. The most common fracture types are transverse and comminuted fractures, while oblique or spiral fractures may also occur due to torsion and indirect violence. The fracture is angled dorsally due to the pull of the flexor digitorum, interosseous muscles, and lumbrical muscles. For stable fractures of the metacarpal shaft, a small splint can be used for external fixation after manual reduction. Under brachial plexus block anesthesia, the affected finger is pulled with the cup joint slightly extended to correct the overlapping deformity. The surgeon squeezes and corrects the lateral displacement in the metacarpal bone gap. Finally, the metacarpophalangeal joint is flexed, and the thumb is placed on the palm to push the metacarpal head and the distal end of the fracture dorsally. The other four fingers are placed on the proximal segment of the dorsum of the hand fracture to correct the dorsal angulation deformity. If it is stable, a brace can be used for fixation, generally for 4-6 weeks, but X-rays should be checked weekly. If there is displacement, surgical incision is required. For closed unstable metacarpal shaft fractures, multiple metacarpal shaft fractures, stable fractures with severe hand swelling, and open fractures, open reduction and internal fixation are appropriate to enable early functional exercises and prevent joint stiffness. The main internal fixation method for open fractures is Kirschner wire fixation, which is inserted from the metacarpal head. In order to enhance its stability, a Kirschner wire is also used to fix the distal part of the adjacent metacarpal bone horizontally, which can prevent rotational deformity and maintain the distal transverse palmar arch. For the second and third metacarpal bones, since the carpometacarpal joints are basically immobile, longitudinal Kirschner wires can be fixed to the proximal carpal bones. If the second to fifth metacarpal bones are fractured, two Kirschner wires are needed for transverse fixation to maintain the transverse palmar arch. When closed open reduction of metacarpal fractures is performed, a longitudinal S-shaped incision is used for single metacarpal fractures, while a transverse S-shaped incision or two longitudinal incisions is used for multiple metacarpal fractures. After making the skin incision, be careful to preserve the two superficial veins on the back of the hand to avoid swelling of the affected hand after the operation. Internal fixation devices can be micro-plates, Kirschner wires or steel wires.

The above is the answer to the question about the healing time of metacarpal fractures. Maybe words cannot give you the most appropriate answer. If you have any questions, you must seek timely treatment. I hope everyone pays attention to their physical health.