The Conservative Treatment of Some Hand and Carpal Fractures

In recent decades, there has been a trend toward increased use of operative treatment of hand fractures. However, internal stabilization with wires or open reduction and internal fixation of the phalanges and the metacarpals carries a risk of surgical complications that can be avoided by using appropriate conservative treatment. In this article, some hand fractures that can be managed safely without surgery are discussed. In conclusion, when facing a fracture in the hand, the first consideration is whether the fracture can be treated nonoperatively and not which operative treatment is most appropriate. This applies to both displaced and undisplaced fractures.