A broken hand happens when one or more bones in your hand are fractured. Broken hands are common in sports, falls and accidents and often cause pain right away.
It may be easy to notice and can cause:
- Pain that worsens with movement
- Swelling or bruising
- Tenderness or stiffness
- Difficulty gripping or using your hand
- A finger that looks bent or out of place
How serious is it?
The severity of a broken hand depends on which bone is broken and how your injury happened.
- Less severe breaks may limit movement and strength but still allow some use of your hand.
- More severe breaks can make it difficult or impossible to use your hand until the bone heals.
What does recovery look like?
Most broken hands heal with proper treatment, but recovery depends on the type and location of the fracture.
- Imaging, such as X-rays, is used to confirm the break and guide care.
- Treatment may include a splint, brace or cast, and sometimes surgery.
- Recovery can take several weeks, and hand therapy may be needed to restore strength and motion.
- Injuries that affect the joint surface may require closer monitoring and treatment.