As an experiencing hand surgeon, I’ve seen quite a variety of hand conditions and injuries but some occur more often than others! If you’ve ever had a hand injury, you know how frustrating and limiting it can be – but if you’ve recently suffered an injury, call the ATX hand surgeon and get started on the road to recovery!
These are the 3 most common hand injuries per the ATX hand surgeon:
Sprains
Hand/wrist sprains are extremely common, so much so that just about everyone has sprained their wrist at some point in their life. That being said, just because it happens often doesn’t make it any less painful!
A sprain refers to an injury to the tissues surrounding and supporting a joint. This includes the ligaments and joint capsule. Sprains vary in severity – In a minor sprain, the tissues essentially remain intact and recover rapidly, however in a more serious sprain the tissues may be badly torn and sometimes need to be repaired surgically.
Fractures and Other Injuries to the Bone
Fractures, while less common than sprains, still occur very regularly. Fractures to the fingers and other bones in the hand account for up to 10% of all broken bones!
A fracture can occur to any of the bones in the hand (or anywhere else on your body!) Fractures in the hand can be complicated by the involvement of the joints at either end of the bone. Fractures are often caused by sporting incidents, falls, or other accidents.
Dislocations
When it comes to hand injuries, finger dislocations are up there with fractures and sprains as some of the most common ailments. A finger dislocation occurs when the finger bones move apart or sideways so the ends of the bones are no longer aligned. Finger dislocations usually happen when the finger is bent backward beyond its normal limit of motion.
Generally speaking, dislocations occur as a result of a fall or a sporting accident. Less commonly dislocations can occur as the result of being involved in a violent incident or in a road accident.
Hand injuries happen to everyone, and when they do, don’t delay – call an ATX hand surgeon to get treated. Due to how complex the structure of the hand is and how often your hands are used, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and get a professional opinion ASAP. If you have any questions about an injury or if you’ve been living in pain for years, give our office a call. We’d love nothing more than to get you back to pain-free living!