My Orthopaedic Surgeon

In 1882, Edward Hallaran Bennett, MD, described the fracture of the base of the first metacarpal that bears his name. Bennett described the anatomic details of the fracture and suggested that early diagnosis and treatment are imperative to prevent loss of function of this highly mobile joint
Synonyms and related keywords: thumb CMC fractures, thumb carpal-metacarpal fracture, thumb carpometacarpal fracture, Bennett's fracture, Bennett's fractures, thumb injury, thumb fracture
Priano & Baratz 2008

most frequent of all thumb frx; - described in 1882 by Dr. Edward Bennet; - it is a frx dislocation, intra-articular frx at base of carpometacarpal joint of the thumb; - involves an oblique intraarticular metacarpal frx (known as the palmar beak fragment) which remains attached to the palmar beak ligament
Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics

The carpus, or wrist, is a complex joint that provides abduction and adduction in the frontal plane of the upper extremity, extension and flexion for hand movements, and supination and pronation in the coronal plane.
Synonyms and related keywords: wrist bone injuries, wrist injuries, wrist sprain, broken wrist, sprained wrist, wrist fracture, fractured wrist, forearm injury, carpus injuries, wrist dislocation, carpus dislocation, wrist joint, greenstick fracture, Colles fracture, Smith fracture, reverse Colles fracture, pseudocarpal injury, pseudo carpal injury, Galeazzi fracture, Monteggia fracture, dorsal dislocation, volar dislocation, distal radius fracture, scaphoid fracture, lunate fracture, traumatic carpal tunnel syndrome, CTS, carpal tunnel syndrome, perilunate dislocation, Hutchinson fracture
Author: Bryan Hoynak, MD 2007

This article addresses carpal fractures in the hand. Because treatment varies depending on the carpal element involved, fractures of the various bones are discussed individually.
Synonyms and related keywords: scaphoid fractures, triquetral fractures, lunate fractures, pisiform fractures, trapezial fractures, hamate fractures, capitate fractures, wrist fractures, broken wrist
Kouris & Schenck 2008

Subcapital fractures of the fifth metacarpal bone, meaning fractures just below the knuckle of the little finger, account for approximately 20% of all hand fractures. Currently, there is no consensus concerning the optimal management of these fractures. Traditionally, treatment consists of closed reduction and external splinting in a neutral position using plaster of Paris (POP), involving the metacarpal joint, the proximal interphalangeal joint and the carpo – metacarpal joint. An alternative treatment strategy is functional treatment using taping or bracing that does not restrict movement.
RW Poolman Cochrane Rev Abstract. 2007

We report the unusual case of a horizontal fracture of the metacarpal head, complicated by 90°dorsal rotation about a transverse axis, and extrusion of the head fragment from the joint capsule. We describe our approach to assessment, surgical management and successful restoration of function.
A.W. ElMaraghy, M.W. Devereaux, V. Panchapakesan Can J Surg, Vol. 52, No. 1, February 2009 E11

If you think a broken (fractured) finger is a minor injury, think again. Without proper treatment a fractured finger can cause major problems. The bones in a normal hand line up precisely. They let you perform many specialized functions, such as grasping a pen or manipulating small objects in your palm. When you fracture a finger bone, it can cause your whole hand to be out of alignment. Without treatment, your broken finger might stay stiff and painful.
Contents - Anatomy Cause Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Rehabilitation

Notes primarily on Metacarpal fractures.

Phalangeal fractures are common injuries that may significantly affect hand function if not managed appropriately. Closed treatment has been the mainstay of treatment. Percutaneous pinning allowed the conversion of more unstable fracture patterns to stable configurations capable of tolerating early motion. More recently, minifragment screws and plates were developed to assist in the management of complex phalangeal fractures.
Synonyms and related keywords: phalangeal injuries, phalangeal fractures, phalangeal dislocation, proximal interphalangeal joint, PIPJ, finger injuries, finger fracture, broken finger, dislocated finger, jammed finger, finger dislocation, PIP joint, PIP, axial blow, crush injury, crushed finger
Divelbiss & Baratz 2008

Hand fractures, a frequent emergency department complaint, are the most common fractures of the body. Proper management at initial evaluation of hand injuries can prevent a significant amount of morbidity and disability. Emergency physicians, often the first to assess these fractures, must have the skills to properly evaluate and manage these injuries.
Synonyms and related keywords: hand fracture, broken hand, hand injury, fractures of the phalanges, volar fracture dislocation, middle phalanx fractures, transverse fracture of distal phalanx, middle phalangeal fractures, proximal phalangeal fractures, transverse fracture of the proximal phalanx, oblique fractures, spiral fractures, condylar fractures, metacarpal fractures, metacarpal head fractures, metacarpal neck fractures, metacarpal shaft fractures, metacarpal base fractures, Bennett fractures, Rolando fractures
Author: William R Fraser, DO 2005

This article offers a detailed review of injuries of the thumb. The topics covered include the following: Thumb phalangeal fractures Mallet thumb Thumb interphalangeal (IP) dislocations Thumb metacarpophalangeal (MCP) dislocations Thumb metacarpal fractures Metacarpal head Metacarpal shaft Metacarpal base Extra-articular fractures Bennett fracture Rolando fracture Comminuted fractures Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) dislocations Thumb MCP ulnar collateral ligament injuries (skier's and/or gamekeeper's thumb)
Synonyms and related keywords: thumb CMC dislocations, thumb CMC fractures, Bennett fractures, Bennett's fractures, Rolando fractures, Rolando's fractures, skier's thumb, gamekeeper's thumb
Priano & Baratz 2005

This review covers primary fractures and dislocations involving the wrist region. The wrist is composed of the region between the forearm and the hand. Its complex movements are essential to human functioning. A dissemination of knowledge with regard to wrist and carpal injuries has occurred since the 1960s. Significant improvements in imaging, treatment, and physician training have been achieved in the last 2 decades, yet injuries remain frustrating to treat for doctors and patients.
Synonyms and related keywords: fractured wrist, broken wrist, dislocated wrist, scaphoid fracture, dorsal intercalated segment instability, DISI, scaphoid waist fractures, avascular necrosis, AVN, lunate fracture, scaphoid dislocation, lunate dislocation, Kienbock disease, Kienbock's disease, transcarpal injury, perilunate dislocation, fracture dislocation, perilunate fracture dislocation, carpal fracture, transscaphoid disruption, trans-scaphoid disruption, transcapitate disruption, trans-capitate disruption, transtriquetral disruption, trans-triquetral disruption, axial dislocation, axial fracture dislocation, axial-radial-ulnar dislocation, axial-radial dislocation, triquetral fractures, pisiform fractures, hamate fractures, scaphocapitate syndrome
Jarman, Ghahary & Tredget 2006

Fractures of the hand can occur in either the small bones of the fingers (phalanges) or the long bones (metacarpals). They can result from a twisting injury, a fall, a crush injury, or direct contact in sports.

The term mallet finger has long been used to describe the deformity produced by disruption of the terminal extensor mechanism at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint.1, 2, 3 Mallet finger is the most common closed tendon injury that is seen in athletes; this injury is also common in nonathletes after "innocent" trauma. Mallet finger has also been referred to as drop, hammer, or baseball finger (although baseball accounts for only a small percentage of such injuries).
Synonyms and related keywords: baseball finger, drop finger, hammer finger, swan-neck deformity, mallet finger/deformity
Author: Michael E Robinson, MD 2007

Malunion may be defined as healing of a fracture in an abnormal (nonanatomic) position. In the hand, it presents a combined functional and aesthetic problem. The management of malunion of hand fractures is more complex than the management of malunion of fractures elsewhere in the skeleton. Good hand function depends on joint mobility, sensibility, good skin coverage, adequate vascularity, and the gliding of a complex flexor and extensor tendon mechanism. Preexisting problems related to any of these factors may limit the usefulness of the digit, and surgical intervention can cause additional scarring and dysfunction. As a consequence, the management of malunion in the hand is predicated on a careful analysis of the risks and benefits of surgical intervention and on the functional goals and the likelihood that the operation can achieve them.
Synonyms and related keywords: malunited hand fractures, deformed hand, phalangeal malunion, metacarpal malunion, carpal malunion, poorly healed hand fracture, nonunion of hand fracture, hand fracture nonunion, hand malalignment, hand malrotation, hand shortening, abnormal anatomic alignment of the hand, phalangeal fracture, pseudoclawing
Lakshmanan, Damodaran & Sher 2006