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Bennetts fracture

A Bennetts fracture refers to a fracture of the base of the thumb metacarpal, which is the bone in the main part of your hand at the base of the thumb. Because the fracture enters the joint between this bone and a wrist bone, it needs to be perfectly reduced and held; sometimes a good well fitting plaster of paris is enough, but usually a pin has to be used to skewer the bones to hold them together until they heal.

Symptoms of Bennett's fracture

instability of the CMC joint of the thumb, accompanied by pain and weakness of the pinch grasp.
pain, swelling, and ecchymosis around the base of the thumb.
a weakened ability to grasp objects or perform such tasks as tying shoes and tearing a piece of paper.
intense pain experienced upon catching the thumb on an object, such as when reaching into a pants pocket.

Treatment of a bennett's Fracture

plaster cast if the fracture is hairline (fracture fragments have not separated from each other)
surgery if the fracture fragments are separated (displaced fracture)

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