In the sporting world, injuries to the hand and wrist account for 2% to 9% of all injuries, with some studies reporting that metacarpal and phalangeal fractures account for 39.2% of all sports-related fractures. Metacarpal and phalangeal fractures account for 18% and 23%, respectively, of below-elbow fractures in the general population in the United States and are the most common injuries of the upper extremity. Return to play can be expedited with early fixation, playing casts, and an emphasis on early range of motion. Otherwise, rewrap the bandage and retest the capillary refill in this manner.Metacarpal and phalangeal fractures are common injuries in athletes and usually result from low-energy, direct hits to the fingers and thumb.Ĭontact sports, in particular football, account for most metacarpal and phalangeal fractures.Ĭonsideration of the degree of injury, the specific sport, the timing of the injury, the level of play, and the athlete’s goals must be made when developing a treatment plan. If the color returns to the fingernail in good time, circulation is good. Check the fingertips for circulation by gently squeezing over the fingernail. Ensure that the splint is only wrapped tightly enough to make the splint secure in its position.If the splint is wrapped too tightly, there will be no flexing (bending of your hand and fingers downward towards the natural resting position) and too much constant pressure may be applied to the injury. A splint is not a cast, and should allow for more mobility.This allows the doctor to remove only the bandage over the injury to assess it, leaving the splint in place for support. If possible, wrap up to the injury, then put a different colored bandage over the injury. Work from above the injury site to the injury site.Secure the splint without wrapping too tightly. Wind it securely around the splint and wrist area to keep the splint in place. There should not be anything rigid that keeps the fingers from passively flexing or bending at rest. For finger injuries, be sure to allow the fingers to flex naturally.The interphalangeal joints are the joints between your fingertips and the MCP joints and should be roughly straight. The MCP joints are the joints at the base of your fingers that attach to your palm. In general, the wrist is usually at a position of 20 degrees extension, and the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints are positioned in 70 degrees of flexion.Take a rolled up crepe bandage segment, rolled gauze or a small cloth and set it between the resting fingers and the bottom of the splint to support the fingers in the resting position.A neutral position is generally the relaxed and natural position of the resting hand where your fingers are naturally slightly curled without any active flexing or use of the muscles. The splint should be applied with the hand and wrist in a neutral position. Splints are meant to allow an injury to safely recover while positioned in a safe and natural resting position. Often the little finger will be attached to the ring finger in the splint to provide greater support and the wrist is immobilized (since the splint extends down the wrist). The splint will be applied to the outer edge of the little finger running alongside the ulnar bone (the opposite side of the thumb).
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