Fractures Q&A

What are upper extremity fractures?

Upper extremity fractures are broken bones in your hand or arm. Some of the most common upper extremity fractures are broken fingers, broken wrists, and broken shoulders. Just like many other injuries, fractures commonly happen near joints. They can be severe enough to break the bone into pieces or tiny hairline fractures hardly detectable on an X-ray.

Hand Therapy Treatment and Education Center, LLP, specializes in occupational therapy to restore the function of your hand or arm as you recover from a fracture. They optimize healing with various treatments that can reduce your pain.

Sometimes, upper extremity fractures happen along with soft-tissue injuries. Hand Therapy Treatment and Education Center, LLP, customizes your rehabilitation to deal with every injury you have and how severe they are.

How do I know if I have an upper extremity fracture?

Upper extremity fractures cause similar symptoms to other musculoskeletal injuries of the hand, wrist, arm, or shoulder. The exact symptoms you experience and their intensity depends on where and how severe the fracture is.

Your upper extremity fracture might cause:

  • Immediate and intense pain
  • Loss of strength
  • Visible deformity
  • Reduced mobility
  • Swelling

Imaging procedures can detect bone fractures following a brief physical exam. X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs can show bone fractures in detail.

How are upper extremity fractures treated?

Hand Therapy Treatment and Education Center, LLP, helps you rehabilitate an upper extremity fracture. Initial treatment of an upper extremity fracture usually involves immobilization to stabilize the injury as it heals. After that, you’ll move on to treatments that restore mobility.

Your personalized treatment plan can consist of:

  • Education on upper extremity injuries and their rehabilitation
  • Custom splinting
  • Treatments that use tools or physical agents (for example, heat, cold, or energy)
  • Range-of-motion exercises
  • Strengthening exercises
  • Pain management treatments

You’ll regularly visit Hand Therapy Treatment and Education Center, LLP, as you recover and rehabilitate a fracture in your upper extremities. Your provider will monitor your healing and help you gradually increase your activity level.

Schedule an appointment today over the phone or online for personalized fracture care at Hand Therapy Treatment and Education Center, LLP.