Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists
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This article presents early controlled mobilization options for potentially unstable, nondisplaced, nonarticular hand fractures. Early controlled mobilization of tissues surrounding a healing fracture has the potential to enhance the quality and rate of fracture healing and a person's functional recovery. The options discussed protect the integrity of the fracture alignment, while permitting safe, pain-free protected motion of joints adjacent to the fracture. ⋯ If clinically unstable, the fracture often is considered unable to tolerate unrestricted active motion during the initial stages of healing. This article offers an alternative perspective, in which clinicians can consider the clinical factors that can be controlled to allow for early protected motion of the regional tissues surrounding a potentially unstable hand fracture. These additional clinical options offer an alternative to acute fracture immobilization and help progress the rehabilitation of hand fracture patients.
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Proximal phalangeal fracture stability is crucial for the initiation of early and effective exercises designed to recover digital and especially proximal interphalangeal joint motion. Active digital flexion and extension exercises are implemented by synergistic wrist motion. ⋯ Surgical release is a last resort in regaining proximal interphalangeal joint motion. This measure is reserved for a failure of treatment when residual proximal interphalangeal joint contracture is persistent and severe enough to cause serious impairment of digital motion and hand function.
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Review
Fracture healing: bone healing, fracture management, and current concepts related to the hand.
Bones fracture frequently and often result in significant impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities, especially when the hand is involved. When fractures occur, there is a disruption of the skeletal tissue organization and a loss of mechanical integrity. ⋯ This article briefly reviews the history of fracture healing and the advances in mechanics and cellular and molecular biology, which should help the reader better understand the current mechanisms related to bone healing (primarily and secondarily). Fracture fixation modes also are described along with the temporal sequencing as to when to protect or move the fractured region.
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This article addresses current approaches for the rehabilitation of distal phalanx and middle phalanx fractures, excluding proximal interphalangeal joint avulsion fractures. Emphasis is placed on establishing the optimal rehabilitation program based on an understanding of the type and location of the fracture, method of fracture management, fracture stability, fracture healing, complications from soft tissue injuries, and recognizing and preventing common problems associated with fractures. Patient case examples and results reported in the literature are included.