FreeMD® Hand Fracture Home Care

Hand Fracture

questions for doctor

Home Care

pain in children

Underlying Cause

Hand Fracture Home Care

Home care for a hand fracture includes:

Apply a cold compress:

Wrap ice in a moist hand towel. Do not apply ice directly to the skin.
Apply for 20-30 minutes, every 1-2 hours, for the first few days.

Rest the injury.
With some hand injuries you may wish to wear a sling for comfort:

Long term immobilization in a sling can lead to frozen shoulder.
If you wear a shoulder sling for longer than two weeks make sure you perform shoulder range of motion exercises twice a day to avoid frozen shoulder.

Elevate your hand:

Above your heart if possible.

Follow cast care instructions.
Follow splint care instructions.
Acetaminophen for pain
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain

Take prescribed medications as directed.

Continue to Hand Fracture Home Care: Pain In Adults

View more Hand injuries topics

Related Conditions

Visit Virtual Doctor

Hand Injury Checkup

Visit Virtual Doctor

freeMD is provided for information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for evaluation and treatment by a physician. Please review our terms of use.

Last Updated: Sep 3, 2008 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

Copyright 1989-2009 DSHI Systems, Inc. Powered by: freeMD

Hand Fracture References: