Restoration of the hand after a fracture

Hand fractures occur for a variety of reasons. It can be a fall, a direct blow, an accident. In any case, violation of the integrity of the bones leads to complete immobility of the carpal region. Here immediately there is swelling, soreness of movements, internal hematoma. The damaged area must be fixed until it is immobile, so that the bones have the opportunity to grow together correctly without complications.

Rehabilitation after a fracture of the hand

Work on the restoration of damaged areas begins immediately after the plaster is removed or after a surgical intervention to install plates, pins, nails.

Due to the lack of movements in the cast arm, the muscles do not work, the blood supply decreases, the vessels become flabby, cease to be elastic. Soft tissues at the site of the violation receive little oxygen, they receive a limited amount of nutrients. Therefore, after the removal of immobilization, incomplete atrophy of the muscular apparatus is detected. Hand appearance:

• Skinny;
• The skin is pale and dry.

The ability to move the brush is reduced to such an extent that even holding a pencil becomes overwhelming work. Among those who have experienced a fracture of the hand, many are afraid that such an injury will cause the right hand to fail and change handwriting.

Doctors recommend starting rehabilitation of the hand after a fracture even before the fixing bandage is removed. This is a long process that requires perseverance, desire and patience from the patient. What changes in the state of the injured limb are achieved during rehabilitation measures:

• Puffiness should decrease in the place where the damaged bones are located;
• In soft tissues, metabolism is restored and returns to normal;
• Regeneration processes are intensifying;
• The risk of complications is reduced. For example, incorrect splicing or incomplete restoration of the functioning of the brush;
• Reducing the development of inflammatory processes in the place where the fracture occurred.

To carry out measures to restore the hand after injury, special exercises have been developed that are performed in the presence of a plaster fixative:

• If possible, move your fingers, if the applied bandage allows. Compression and extension contributes to the partial elimination of congestion in the broken area;
• Try to connect the thumb with the index, then with the middle, with the ring finger and with the little finger. Perform movements sequentially, slowly;
• Try to bend each finger, using all the joints present in it;
• A healthy hand helps the injured one bend the phalanx where the nail plate is located.

The movements are aimed at the gradual development of the carpal section. Everything should be done only under the supervision of a doctor and after his permission. It is also advised to approach the development of a brush after a fracture in a comprehensive manner. This means that along with gymnastics, undergo procedures using medical equipment, visit a massage room.

As physiotherapeutic procedures, ultraviolet irradiation of a place located above the injured place is carried out. After 14 days, if the doctor allows, then the very site of the fracture is exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Fracture repair time

How long the process of healing and subsequent restoration of the hand will be depends on the individual characteristics of the patient's body. It is impossible to speed up the process, but it is possible to make the rate of regeneration and recovery slow down or stop. There are complications in the form of nonunion of bones.

How to develop a hand after a fracture depends on the duration of walking in a cast and on the site of injury:

• If the navicular bone is broken. The time of wearing a fixing bandage is from 6 to 8 weeks. Recovery will last up to 5.5 months;
• Wrist bones damaged. The gypsum is on the arm for up to a month. Rehabilitation lasts up to 2.5 months;
• Fracture of the phalanx of the fingers. 14 days the bandage fixes the position. Up to 2.5 months, recovery measures are carried out.

As a complication, a false joint may form. This is due to non-compliance with recommendations and appointments. Treatment of a false joint is possible only with the help of surgical intervention.

Exercise therapy for the development of the hand

Exercise therapy is considered the primary therapeutic action in how to develop a brush after a fracture. Already on the second day after applying the immobilization bandage, the patient should begin to move the injured arm, performing simple exercises up to 6 times daily. Movements are performed by the elbow and shoulder joint. Helps to restore motor activity, light movements of the fingers. If possible, even movements of the wrist joint will help reduce the time of the forced restriction.

As a result, blood supply improves in the injured arm, soft tissues receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients. The outflow of lymph allows you to cleanse the site of damage from toxins and reduce inflammation. The hematoma goes away faster, along with it the puffiness subsides. Regeneration and fusion is faster without complications.

Recently, more and more often, instead of a plaster fixative, it is proposed to use:

• special bandage Turbocast;
• rigid plastic brace.

When applied, the skin of the hand is able to breathe. Freely use ointments and medical devices for physiotherapy.

A set of movements is performed that the patient can do independently. The figures show what movements a person can perform for rehabilitation after a displaced fracture of the hand:

Below are additional movements carried out after strengthening the muscular apparatus, used at the stage of final rehabilitation:

The more often the patient performs gymnastics, the more effective the recovery measures will be.

Physiotherapy and massage

A full restoration of the functioning of the hand after an injury of any complexity is impossible with the use of exercise therapy alone. This process should be approached comprehensively, using medical equipment and a massage room.

As physiotherapy measures:

• therapy with a high-frequency electromagnetic field;
• exposure to the fracture site with currents of various dynamics and rhythm;
• the use of ointments in combination with ultrasonic exposure;
• laser therapy in combination with infrared radiation;
• mud therapy procedures, water manipulations.

At home, you can do paraffin warming and application of therapeutic mud. There will be no difficulties in acquiring the necessary materials, since both mud mixtures and paraffin are freely sold at pharmacies.

Fractures, even the simplest, should be taken seriously. Failure to follow the advice and prescriptions leads to complications or re-injury. During the recovery period, you should perform daily therapeutic exercises, undergo procedures using medical equipment and take good care of your hands.

Video: A set of exercises for developing a brush