Clinics in sports medicine
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The high demands placed on the upper extremity in sporting activities subject the competitive athlete to common injuries of the hand. Treatment options are based on the fracture configuration, associated extremity injuries, and status of the surrounding soft tissue. ⋯ Supplemental methods of fixation, such as percutaneous pins and tension-band wires, may be used for unstable fractures. When required, open reduction and internal fixation can provide optimum stability to the fracture, which allows immediate range-of-motion and early return to play.
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Closed-tendon injuries of the hand and wrist are very common in the athletic population. Most of these injuries, if seen acutely, can be treated successfully with nonoperative management, although some do require operative treatment. It is those injuries, however, that go undiagnosed until the end of the season, which may result in permanent disability.