The carpus consists of a row of bones closer to the body and a row closer to the fingers. These include the scaphoid bone (Os scaphoideum), the moon bone (Os lunatum), the triangular bone (Os triquetrum) and the large and small polygonal bone (Os trapezium and trapezoideum), the capitate bone (Os capitatum), the hooked leg (Os hamatum) and the pea bone (Os pisifome).
Therapy
Depending on the location and number of affected carpal bones, the treatment of a carpal fracture varies. As the muscles and tendons of the hand may have shortened and the musculature may have deteriorated due to the wearing of the plaster cast or the protection of the operated hand, the aim of the therapy is to mobilize and strengthen the structures of the hand and forearm. Special exercise equipment with rubber grid for strengthening the hand muscles, manual therapy, stretching of the hand muscles and also the shoulder muscles support the healing process.
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- If only one of the carpal bones is affected and the fracture is not displaced, the fracture can be treated with a forearm cast. How long the forearm plaster has to be worn depends on the location of the fracture in the bone. The duration of the treatment ranges from 4 to 10 weeks.
Depending on the patient’s wishes, the injury can also be surgically treated with a screw in these cases, which can increase stability and allow the hand to be loaded earlier.
- If the fracture is displaced or bone fragments have come loose, surgery is necessary. Depending on the findings, a very small incision can be made (minimally invasive), in more difficult cases the area must be operated on openly. If the plaster or splint can be removed, or after the surgically treated fracture has healed, subsequent physiotherapy can be started. Depending on the findings, this can be expected to take 6-8 weeks after the operation.
- Physiotherapy for a fracture
- Exercises against muscle shortening
- Thorn Massage
- Physiotherapy wrist
- Mobilization Exercises
- Mobility training – shoulder
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