Hand
The skeletal structure of the wrist and hand includes the wrist bones, the palm bones, and the fingers.
The wrist consists of eight bones, divided into two rows of four.
The row of bones that articulates with the radius and ulna includes the navicular (scaphoid), lunate, triquetral, and pisiform bones, while the row that articulates with the palm consists of the trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, and hamate bones.
The navicular (scaphoid) is the most important wrist bone, providing stability and controlling the movement of the other bones.
Fractures of this bone are more common in children and adolescents, often splitting the bone into two equal parts.
In hairline fractures where the bone has not shifted at the fracture site, immobilization with a cast for 2–3 months is sufficient. However, if the bone is displaced, surgery becomes necessary.
Fractures of the other wrist bones are rare, and their treatments are similar to that of the scaphoid.
There are five metacarpal bones in the hand, named from the outer to the inner side: the first metacarpal (thumb) to the fifth metacarpal (little finger).
In fractures of the base of the first metacarpal, the thumb is held in a partially flexed position and cannot move.
Severe fractures can be stabilized with pinning and screws.
Fractures of the hand bones can occur at any age, with treatment typically involving immobilization of the hand with a cast for three weeks. In more severe cases, stabilization may require screws and plates or pinning.
Each finger has three phalanges, while the thumb has two and lacks a middle phalanx. The proximal phalanges articulate with the wrist bones, and the distal phalanges next to the nail are called the nail phalanges.
Finger fractures can result from a direct impact, such as being hit by a ball in sports, falling, or the finger getting caught between two hard objects.
A finger breaks when excessive force is applied against its direction of movement. Depending on the type and severity of the fracture, the treatment process can vary widely.
