Boxer's fracture | |
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Other names | Metacarpal neck fracture of the little finger, scrapper's fracture,[1] bar room fracture, street fighter's fracture[1] |
Boxer's fracture of the 5th metacarpal head from punching a wall | |
Specialty | Emergency medicine, orthopedics |
Symptoms | Pain, depressed knuckle[2] |
Causes | Hitting an object with a closed fist[3] |
Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms and confirmed by X-rays[3] |
Treatment | Buddy taping and a tensor bandage, reduction and splinting[4][3] |
Medication | Ibuprofen, paracetamol (acetaminophen)[3] |
Prognosis | Generally good[4] |
Frequency | 20% of hand fractures[4] |
A boxer's fracture is the break of the fifth metacarpal bone of the hand near the knuckle.[4] Occasionally, it is used to refer to fractures of the fourth metacarpal as well.[1] Symptoms include pain and a depressed knuckle.[2]
Classically, it occurs after a person hits an object with a closed fist.[3] The knuckle is then bent towards the palm of the hand.[3] Diagnosis is generally suspected based on symptoms and confirmed with X-rays.[3]
For most fractures with less than 70 degrees of angulation, buddy taping and a tensor bandage resulted in similar outcomes to reduction with splinting.[4] In those with more than 70 degrees of angulation or in which the broken finger is rotated, reduction and splinting may be recommended.[3]
They represent about a fifth of hand fractures.[4] They occur more commonly in males than females.[4] Both short and long term outcomes are generally good.[4] The knuckle, however, typically remains somewhat deformed.[5]