eMedicine Specialties > Plastic Surgery > Hand

Hand, Thumb Fracture and Dislocations: Follow-up

Author: Donald R Laub Jr, MS, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, University of Vermont College of Medicine; Interim Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Fletcher-Allen Health Care
Coauthor(s): Steven V Priano, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Oct 8, 2008

Outcome and Prognosis

Outcome and prognosis of thumb fractures and dislocations is related to the amount of energy associated with the original injury. High-energy injuries produce comminution, articular surface damage, and extensive soft tissue injury. These factors predispose the patient to degenerative changes and stiffness, leading to a poor outcome. Anatomically restore any intra-articular fracture to diminish the likelihood of developing these injuries. Low-energy injuries with simple fracture patterns and limited soft tissue involvement are associated with an excellent prognosis.

 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Mark E Baratz, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Hand, Thumb Fracture and Dislocations

Overview: Hand, Thumb Fracture and Dislocations
Workup: Hand, Thumb Fracture and Dislocations
Treatment: Hand, Thumb Fracture and Dislocations
Follow-up: Hand, Thumb Fracture and Dislocations
Multimedia: Hand, Thumb Fracture and Dislocations
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

thumb CMC dislocations, thumb CMC fractures, Bennett fractures, Bennett's fractures, Rolando fractures, Rolando's fractures, skier's thumb, gamekeeper's thumb

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Donald R Laub Jr, MS, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, University of Vermont College of Medicine; Interim Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Fletcher-Allen Health Care
Donald R Laub Jr, MS, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Hand Surgery, American Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Association, American College of Surgeons, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, AO Foundation, Association for Academic Surgery, International College of Surgeons, Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, and Vermont State Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Steven V Priano, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health
Steven V Priano, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Milton B Armstrong, MD, FACS, Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery, Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopedics, Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Milton B Armstrong, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Hand Surgery, American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Association, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, and National Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Garry S Brody, MD, MSc, FACS, Professor Emeritus, Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
Garry S Brody, MD, MSc, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Hand Surgery, American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, American Society for Head and Neck Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, California Medical Association, Medical Society of Virginia, and Pan-Pacific Surgical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Nicolas (Nick) G Slenkovich, MD, Director, Colorado Plastic Surgery Center
Nicolas (Nick) G Slenkovich, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and Colorado Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Subhas Gupta, MD, PhD, CM, FRCS(C), FACS, Professor of Surgery, Chair, Department of Plastic Surgery, Director of Plastic Surgery Residency, Director of Comprehensive Wound Service, Department of Plastic Surgery, Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Subhas Gupta, MD, PhD, CM, FRCS(C), FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American Burn Association, American College of Phlebology, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, California Society of Plastic Surgeons, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Plastic Surgery Research Council, Quebec Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and Wound Healing Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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