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Acute injuries of the hand, wrist, or fingers occur suddenly due to trauma, such as crush injuries, cuts, foreign bodies, or high-pressure injection injuries. Because the hand contains a complex network of bones, joints, tendons, nerves, and ligaments, even seemingly minor injuries can cause significant damage. Prompt assessment and appropriate treatment are important for protecting hand function and movement.
Conditions Filter
Amputation
Amputations are typically caused by severe force or crushing injuries and may be either partial or complete. These are serious injuries that require immediate surgical assessment, advice, and referral. Is this an emergency? Yes! Amputations and partial amputations are time critical emergencies that require immediate specialist assessment. Please contact 1300HANDOC immediately for advice and further…
Animal Bite
Animal bites are a relatively common hand injury and can result in open wounds, puncture wounds, crush injuries, or a combination of these injuries. Any animal bite that breaks the skin causing an open wound carries a risk of infection. This is concerning when the hand is involved, as infection can spread into the tendons,…
Bennett Fracture
A Bennett fracture is a two-part fracture at the base of the thumb. A small piece of bone remains attached to the trapezium, while the rest of the thumb metacarpal moves out of position at the CMC joint. Is this an emergency? No, but it requires prompt medical assessment. Please contact 1300HANDOC for advice and…
Boutonniere Deformity
The middle finger joint (PIP joint) becomes flexed towards the palm, while the fingertip joint (DIP joint) hyperextends. This deformity is most commonly caused by damage to the central slip of the extensor tendon and worsens over time. Visually Boutonniere deformity is the opposite of the Swan Neck Deformity. Is this an emergency? A boutonnière…
Boxer's Fracture
A boxer’s fracture is a break in the 5th metacarpal, the long bone connecting the hand to the little finger. It most commonly occurs at the neck of the 5th metacarpal, just below the knuckle, and is often caused by punching with a closed fist. Is this an emergency? Open boxers fracture requires urgent medical…
Burns
Burns are tissue injuries caused by exposure to heat, chemicals, electricity, radiation, or other sources of energy. They can vary in depth and severity and are classified into different degrees according to the extent of tissue damage. Is this an emergency? Urgent medical assessment is required for deep or extensive burns, electrical or chemical burns,…
Closed Fracture
A closed fracture occurs when a bone is broken but does not penetrate or break through the skin. Closed fractures can be undisplaced, where the bone remains in its normal position, or displaced, where the bone fragments have moved out of alignment. Hand fractures commonly involve the phalanges (finger bones) or metacarpals (the long bones…
Compartment Syndrome
Compartment syndrome occurs when pressure builds up inside a closed space within the muscles, reducing blood flow to the tissues. Acute compartment syndrome is a medical emergency that requires urgent surgery. Without prompt treatment, the lack of blood flow can cause permanent damage to muscles and nerves, and the affected tissue may begin to die.…
Crush Injury
Crush injuries occur when the hand or fingers are compressed or pinned by an object and subjected to significant force. Crush injuries can result in fractures, nerve damage, tendon tears and compromised blood flow. Early assessment and appropriate investigations are essential to determine the extent of injury and guide the most effective treatment plan. Is…
Dislocation
A finger dislocation occurs when the bones of the finger are forced out of their normal alignment at a joint. The three joints that can be affected are the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint (knuckle), the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint (middle joint), and the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint (joint closest to the fingertip). Finger dislocations are classified…
Extensor Tendon Injury
Extensor tendons are thin tendons that sit just under the skin and are easily injured by a laceration or trauma across the back of the wrist, hand or finger. When the extensor tendon is injured, the fingers are unable to fully straighten. Is this an emergency? No, but open tendon injuries require prompt attention to…
Flexor Tendon Injury
Flexor tendons are strong, cord-like tendons that connect the muscles in the forearm to the bones of the fingers and hand. They run along the palm side of the hand and fingers, lying relatively close to the skin. Each finger has two flexor tendons, while the thumb has one. These tendons are responsible for bending…
Foreign Body
A foreign body occurs when material penetrates the skin and becomes embedded within the soft tissues of the hand or fingers. Improper removal can cause further injury if the foreign body is located close to tendons, nerves, or blood vessels. Is this an emergency? Foreign bodies can be an emergency depending on the type, size,…
High Pressure Injection Injury
High-pressure injection injuries occur when a substance such as paint, grease, or hydraulic fluid is injected into the hand under pressure. Initially, these injuries may appear minor but are in fact a medical emergency. Is this an emergency? Yes! High pressure injection injuries are emergency cases and immediate surgical consultation is required. Please contact 1300HANDOC…
Infection
Hand infections are common and occur when bacteria, viruses, or fungi enter the skin or deeper tissues of the hand. If left untreated, a hand infection can become more serious and may lead to stiffness, weakness, or damage to the skin, nerves, tendons or bone. It is important to recognise the signs early and seek…
Jersey Finger
Jersey finger is a traumatic injury to the flexor tendon of the finger, where the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon is torn away (avulsed) from its attachment at the base of the distal phalanx. This injury affects the ability to bend the fingertip joint and typically occurs following a forceful extension of a flexed finger.…
Laceration
Lacerations to the skin can cause damage to the underlying structures of the hand and fingers, including tendons, nerves, and blood vessels. As these structures lie close to the surface of the skin, there is a higher risk of injury when a laceration is deep or complex. Careful assessment is required to determine the full…
Mallet Finger
Mallet finger is an injury to the tip of the finger involving the extensor tendon, which is responsible for straightening the fingertip. Damage to this tendon can cause the fingertip to droop downwards and result in difficulty or inability to fully straighten the end joint of the finger. Is this an emergency? No. A Mallet…
Nail Bed Injury
Damage to the sensitive tissue underneath the fingernail, which is responsible for nail growth and anchoring the nail to the finger. These injuries are very common and may occur with or without a fracture of the fingertip bone (distal phalanx). If left untreated, they can lead to permanent nail deformities, including nail splitting, lifting or…
Nerve Injury
The hand is controlled by three main nerves: the median nerve, the ulnar nerve, and the radial nerve. These nerves start in the shoulder area and travel down the arm to the hand. They allow you to feel touch, temperature, and pain, and help your hand perform both strong movements, like gripping, and fine movements,…
Open Fracture
An open fracture occurs when a broken bone is associated with an open wound, allowing the fracture to communicate with the outside environment. The bone may or may not be visible through the wound. Open fractures can be undisplaced, where the bone remains in alignment, or displaced, where the bone fragments have moved out of…
Rolando Fracture
A Rolando fracture is a complex fracture-dislocation at the base of the thumb metacarpal. It is more severe than a Bennett fracture because the bone is broken into several fragments rather than along a single fracture line. Is this an emergency? No, but it requires prompt medical assessment as it involves complex fractures of the…
Scaphoid Fracture
A scaphoid fracture is a break in one of the small carpal bones on the thumb side of the wrist.
Scapholunate Ligament Tear
The scapholunate ligament is in the central part of the wrist, connecting the scaphoid and lunate bones. It is important for maintaining wrist stability and ensuring coordinated movement between these two bones. Injury to the scapholunate ligament can vary in severity, ranging from a mild sprain or partial tear to a complete ligament rupture. Is…
Skier's Thumb
Skier's thumb is a sprain or tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) at the base of the thumb. This ligament is essential for thumb stability and allows you to grip, pinch, and grasp objects securely. Is this an emergency? No, most Skier’s Thumb injuries are not an emergency however if the injury involves an…
Swan Neck Deformity
A swan neck deformity is an abnormal position of the finger where the middle joint bends backwards (hyperextends) and the fingertip joint bends forwards (flexes). This creates a characteristic curved appearance resembling a swan’s neck and can affect finger movement and hand function. Visually Swan Neck Deformity is the opposite of Boutonniere deformity. Is this…
TFCC Tear
A TFCC tear is an injury to the cartilage and supporting ligaments on the little-finger side of the wrist. It can cause wrist pain, particularly with gripping, twisting, or weight-bearing activities. Is this an emergency? Urgent assessment may be required for a TFCC tear if the injury is associated with significant trauma, deformity, severe swelling,…
Wrist Fracture
A wrist fracture is a break in one or more of the bones that make up the wrist. It commonly involves the radius or ulna in the forearm, or the small carpal bones of the wrist. Fractures may be displaced or undisplaced and can vary in severity. Is this an emergency? Yes, if there is…