Case Report: Hand Fractures Resulting From Altercations Among Servicemen
Case Report: Hand Fractures Resulting From Altercations Among Servicemen
This article discusses 3 cases involving military personnel who presented to the primary care clinic with metacarpal fractures. The focus of these case reports is not so much on the outcome of the injuries, but on the mechanisms which caused them.
A 24-year-old right-handed male Marine presents with a hand injury after falling off an aircraft and landing on his outstretched palm. Physical examination showed swelling and tenderness over the right 5th metacarpal. Further, it was noted that on extension he had approximately 10 degrees of volar angulation and slight internal rotation. However, on full flexion, all digits were aligned with orientation toward the distal radius. Examination of the wrist was unremarkable. A hand x-ray was obtained.
(Enlarge Image)
Figure 1.
Anteroposterior, lateral, and oblique films showing a comminuted 5th metacarpal neck fracture with volar angulation.
The patient's fracture was reduced and placed in an ulnar gutter splint with the wrist at 30 degrees extension and the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint at 90 degrees flexion. Orthopaedics was further consulted for recommended follow-up care.
Introduction
This article discusses 3 cases involving military personnel who presented to the primary care clinic with metacarpal fractures. The focus of these case reports is not so much on the outcome of the injuries, but on the mechanisms which caused them.
Case 1
A 24-year-old right-handed male Marine presents with a hand injury after falling off an aircraft and landing on his outstretched palm. Physical examination showed swelling and tenderness over the right 5th metacarpal. Further, it was noted that on extension he had approximately 10 degrees of volar angulation and slight internal rotation. However, on full flexion, all digits were aligned with orientation toward the distal radius. Examination of the wrist was unremarkable. A hand x-ray was obtained.
(Enlarge Image)
Figure 1.
Anteroposterior, lateral, and oblique films showing a comminuted 5th metacarpal neck fracture with volar angulation.
The patient's fracture was reduced and placed in an ulnar gutter splint with the wrist at 30 degrees extension and the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint at 90 degrees flexion. Orthopaedics was further consulted for recommended follow-up care.
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