Understanding Hand Trauma in Kids

It’s easy to take the hands and wrists for granted—until one of them isn’t working properly. If your child has a hand injury, the tendons, ligaments, muscles, bones or joints that make up their hands and wrists may stop functioning correctly. If you suspect your child has had an injury to their hand, they should be seen right away. These types of injuries can affect how well your child can use their hands, and can have a negative impact on their everyday quality of life.

Types of Hand Trauma in Kids

There are several types of hand injuries your child may experience. Some are from traumas—single events like a car accident or a fall. Other injuries develop over time, from overuse or repeated injuries that weaken the parts of the hand. These injuries may include:

• Fingertip / Wrist Injuries: Fingertip and wrist injuries in children can range from minor cuts and bruises to more severe fractures or dislocations, depending on the force and mechanism of the injury. Prompt evaluation by a healthcare professional is essential to assess the extent of the injury and determine the appropriate treatment plan, which may include splinting, casting, or surgical intervention in severe cases.

• Broken Fingers: Pediatric broken fingers are frequently caused by accidental trauma during play, sports activities, or falls. Symptoms of a broken finger in children may include pain, swelling, deformity, and difficulty moving the affected finger. A fracture should be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests, such as X-rays.

• Broken Wrist / Forearm: Symptoms of a broken wrist or forearm in children include pain, swelling, deformity, and difficulty moving the affected limb. Immediate medical evaluation and an imaging test is crucial to assess the extent of the fracture to determine the appropriate course of treatment, which may involve casting, splinting, or surgery to realign the bones.

• Cuts to Finger or Hand (Tendon / Nerve Injuries): When a child suffers from cuts to the fingers or hands, it can result in tendon or nerve injuries, posing significant concerns for long-term function. Symptoms of a nerve injury include difficulty moving the finger or hand, numbness, or tingling sensations. Tendon damage may result in impaired grip strength or the inability to fully extend the finger or hand. Urgent medical attention is crucial to assess the severity of the injury and determine the appropriate treatment plan, which may include surgery for severe tendon or nerve injuries.

Common Symptoms of Hand Trauma in Children

Symptoms can vary from injury to injury, and child to child. The most common include:

• Pain when bending or flexing fingers

• Swelling and inflammation

• Stiffening or inability to outstretch hand

• Decreased flexibility

• Inability to move the hand or wrist

• Deformities

• Unable to perform small hand movements without pain, such as using a pen or pencil

Depending on the type of injury, symptoms may come on right away, or develop gradually.

Diagnosing Hand Trauma in Children

A diagnosis begins with a physical exam where our orthopedic doctors will look at the injury and perform small tests like pushing lightly on the area. Our doctors may then order imaging tests like X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans to get a better understanding of the injury. If there is a lot of swelling, your child may give a fluid sample to make sure there isn’t an infection.

Treatment for Children with Hand Trauma

The hand trauma experts at LuskinOIC can provide several types of treatment, depending on your child’s specific needs. Types of treatment may include:

• A splint to keep the hand or wrist in place

• Strengthening or stretching exercises

• Therapeutic massage techniques, specifically designed for hand trauma recovery

• Prescription medications to treat pain, reduce swelling or help with other symptoms your child may be experiencing

• Surgery may be required in instances of a hand or wrist fracture

Surgery for children with hand trauma should be done by a highly skilled pediatric orthopedic hand doctor, who is experienced in surgical repairing the many tiny bones in the hand and wrist.