Crush injuries
The hand is made of more than 20 small bones, this allows us to make different shapes with our hands and form different grips for different size and weight objects. Crush injuries of the hand can be scary as they often involve injury to bone, soft tissues, blood vessels and nerves. They can be complex and frequently involve surgical intervention. It is important to see a hand therapist to assess and treat the injury as soon as possible as it will affect the function of the hand in the future.
Common symptoms:
- Deformity of the finger or hand
- Skin colour changes
- Pain in the hand and wrist
- Tender to touch in the area
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Pins and needle or numbness in the hand or fingers
Potential causes:
- Direct forceful compression to the hand eg fingertip jammed in a door or window, a hand stepped on during a sports game
Assessment:
Subjective assessment: We will ask you about your hand injury, your daily activities and your sports, your general health and other potential factors that may contribute to your concerns. We will also ask you what activities you enjoy and the goal you want to reach.
Objective assessment: We will look at your hand and palpate around the area. We will look at how your hand and wrist move and their interaction with your elbow and shoulder. We may perform special tests to pinpoint the origin of your limitations
Treatment:
- Education on the injury and recovery pathway
- Wound care (including debridement, cleaning and dressing)
- Scar management
- Casting or splinting (plaster, synthetic, thermoplastic or neoprene)
- Taping
- Activity modification
- Muscle and/or other soft tissue release when appropriate
- Joint mobilisation after the bone and other structures have healed
- Dry needling
- Home exercise program including stretching, movement and strengthening exercises
Plan:
From the moment we meet you, we are planning an individualised and holistic approach to help you reach your goal and be your best!
Rehabilitate, Educate, Innovate.
Providing excellence in physiotherapy from assessment to diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation