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boxer's fracture
Etiology:
- punching a hard surface with closed fist
- landing on a hard surface with a closed fist [2]
Epidemiology:
- uncommon among professional boxers
Clinical manifestations:
- pain in dominant hand
- swelling at the base of the fifth digit
Radiology:
- X-ray of hand
- fracture at the neck of the fifth metacarpal with volar displacement of the distal metacarpal head
- less commonly fracture is of the fourth metacarpal [2]
*images [1,2]
Management:
- orthopedic surgery
- external reduction vs internal fixation with cast immobilization
- for fracture with minimal rotation & angulation, functional taping &/or ulnar gutter splint may suffice [2]
General
metacarpal fracture
References
- Yoshida N, Tsuchida Y
Boxer's Fracture.
N Engl J Med 2019; 381:969. Sept 5, 2019
PMID: 31483967
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm1813737
- Cimino-Fiallos N
14 Can't-Miss Hand Emergencies
Medscape. March 5, 2021
https://reference.medscape.com/slideshow/hand-emergencies-6010180