How To Treat Boxer's Fracture

A boxer's fracture is a condition that occurs when certain bones close to the knuckle have become broken. Despite its name, it's actually rare for a boxer to suffer from this kind of fracture because of the heavy gloves they wear. The exact name of the bones that can be broken with this fracture is the metacarpal bones, which connect each finger to the wrist. A case of boxer's fracture occurs when the metacarpal bones in the little or ring finger become broken. These fractures are primarily caused by standard fist fights or situations where individuals punch their closed fist against a wall or similar object. Individuals will likely experience a sharp popping sensation when the fracture occurs along with some swelling, bruising, and discoloration in the area. Learn about how to treat a boxer's fracture now.

Apply Ice Pack To Injury

Many of the treatments used for a boxer's fracture are considered home remedies. If patients want to properly reduce the amount of pain and inflammation from the injury, it's recommended to apply an ice pack to the injury. Using an ice pack on the injured area will lower the patient's body temperature in that area, which helps reduce the amount of swelling and pain they're going through. Along with this main benefit, the other advantages patients will derive from this treatment include the prevention or limitation of bruising as well as the slowing of any bleeding because of the fracture, which is only possible if the bone has protruded through the skin. There are a few issues patients will need to avoid when applying an ice pack to their injury. For one, it's important to not apply the ice directly to the skin and avoid using this method for lengthy periods. It's recommended to place the ice pack on the injury for fifteen minutes at a time.

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Wash Open Wounds With Soap And Water

Although not common, it's possible the boxer's fracture is also a compound fracture, which means the bone has caused an open injury. The most important element of treating open wounds is to make sure these wounds don't become infected. Open fractures heavily increase a patient's chances of suffering from an infection along with healing problems. If left untreated, infections can spread to other areas of the body and create serious health problems that can be difficult to get rid of. When the metacarpal bones have been broken, individuals will want to wash open wounds with soap and water to reduce the possibility of infection. They should make sure to clean the wound thoroughly to the point where most blood has been washed away and the area has been sterilized properly. Patients will want to use hot water while doing so to make sure bacteria in the immediate vicinity are killed.

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Splint Or Cast The Injured Hand

Once diagnosed with a boxer's fracture, patients will likely be provided with a splint or cast for the injured hand they'll be required to wear until the bone has healed properly. This treatment method is used for all fractures that don't immediately require some form of surgery. The goal of any cast or splint is to immobilize the broken bone so the injury doesn't worsen. If the patient's hand isn't properly immobilized following a fracture, using their hand before the bone has healed can lead to damage in the surrounding tendons, nerves, ligaments, and muscles. When individuals have been told to splint or cast the injured hand, it is important to keep the cast dry while they are wearing it so it doesn't lose its strength. If the fracture swells too much, it's possible patients will experience some pain directly under the cast. If such an issue occurs, patients should contact their doctor to determine if their cast should be loosened or removed.

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Surgical Repair

Surgical repair is only necessary if the fracture is severe enough to warrant it. In most cases, the other treatment options on this list will be sufficient enough to properly heal the fracture and relieve pain. If these treatments have not been as effective as a patient had hoped, their doctor may recommend a form of surgery to make sure their hand heals properly. Surgical repair is most commonly used for a boxer's fracture when the bone breaks through the skin or there are several fractures in the same area. If an individual's occupation or a hobby they enjoy requires them to use their hands for very precise motor skills, they might want to consider surgery to make sure the bone heals to the exact position it was in before the break. An activity like playing the piano can require precise motor skills. The surgery used for a boxer's fracture places small pins within the skin to secure the bone in its correct position until the area has healed fully.

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Pain Management Through Medication

While the application of an ice pack can provide some relief from the pain that occurs with a boxer's fracture, the best way to manage this pain is through medication. When patients visit the doctor following a boxer's fracture, they will likely provide the patients with a prescription for pain medication. It's essential for patients to take the recommended dosage to make sure their pain management through medication is effective and any possible side effects from the medication are minimized. If the pain the patient is experiencing is moderate to severe, it's likely they'll receive a prescription for a relatively strong pain medication. On the other hand, mild pain may only require the use of over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Even if a patient is only thinking about using an over-the-counter medication, they should still discuss this treatment option with a doctor before doing so.