The purpose of this study was to describe the patterns and results of treatment of fractures of the hand and wrist after punching injury.

The authors retrospectively reviewed 91cases of fractures of the hand and wrist after punching injury in 67 patients from January 1998 to September 2002. The mean follow-up was 18 months. The mean age was 25.7 years old, ranging from 11 years old to 41 years old. The results were evaluated by modified criteria of Bruce and Maudsley.

The most common fractures were metacarpal base fractures (42.9%), and the second most common fractures were distal metacarpal fractures (19.8%). Metacarpal base fractures were usually combined with dislocation of carpometacarpal joint, especially in the fourth and fifth metacarpal bone and single fifth metacarpal bone (29.7%). There were a few complications of limitation of motion (4 cases), pain (1 case), angular deformity of distal metacarpal bone (1 case), malunion of metacarpal shaft (2 cases) and nonunion of metacarpal shaft (1 case). There were excellent results in 84 cases, good in 4 cases and fair in 3 cases.

The most common fractures after punching injury were metacarpal base fractures, especially the forth and fifth metacarpal bone. Distal metacarpal and metacarpal shaft fractures were mostly single fractures. There were diverse patterns of fracture-dislocation of the hand and wrist after punching. We must be careful to evaluate combined injury when a patient visits after punching injury.