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Broken Hand


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Boxer's Fracture
Golf injury question. On 1/1/2011, I sustained a break in the fifth metacarpal neck of my right hand (displaced fracture, 45 degrees angulated). I opted to have surgery and had two pins inserted 1/7. I am fortunate to have good medical care and am being treated by an excellent orthopedic surgeon. During the post-op exam, my doctor informed me that the break was healing well and I should have pins out, cast off, splint on by 2/7. I am 34 and right-handed. 8 handicap. Healthy, don't smoke, pretty active, injury occurred in my dominant hand. Dr. is aware of my affinity for golf. Said I should be healed by 4/1; another surgeon said I should be back on the course by May. Dr. also said I should be able to make a fist.

I reside in NE USA, therefore, I'm not looking to play anytime soon what with the 2 feet of snow on the ground. My question is this: anyone suffer a similar injury and what was the recovery timeframe? I'm not looking for medical observations, just personal experiences , hopefully positive ones. Any advice would also be appreciated. I'm trying to remain positive -- I utilize an overlap grip so hopefully I'll be OK there. My goal is to be chipping and putting by early April, playing by May.

I've done all sorts of research and found several golfers suffered similar injuries (Olazabal -- out one month; Adam Scott, played US Open w/5th meta break, Kevin Na missed 6 months but played w/break for several weeks and injury was in different location of bone, Steve Bensch also missed a lot of time but I belive he had other medical issues he was dealing with as well).

Thanks.
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At the ripe old age of 45, I attempted to take a ride on my then 15 year old son's skateboard. My son and his friends said that my feet flew out from under me and I went nearly vertical. I tried to catch myself and landed on my right hand. I thought I had sprained my wrist and waited two weeks to even bother calling the doctor, and asking how long does it take a sprain to heal. They said to go to the ER asap. I found I have broken 5 bones in my wrist and hand. I was sent to a orthopedic surgeon, and he told me that it was a classic case of boxer's hand. I had waited to let to do anything but put a cast on it, and see what happen. I wore one for about 2 months, and then after that it took me almost a whole year to gain control of my hand like it was before. Another year or so, and my would be really sore if I hit a lot of golf balls. And at times I would flinch on the way down on a shot out of the rough. I layed the sod over the ball one time when it was about to get dark, and I thought I had broken it again.


I am older than you, so I would think I would heal slower. Its been fine for the last couple of years. But when it gets really cold, or snowy. Like it is now. Then it will hurt. The doctor said, to expect arthritis in there at a later date in my life.

And that is my :fool: story of the day.

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I was about 51 or 52, ended up with a boxer"s fracture of my right thumb. Not displaced so it wasn't a surgical repair, they set the bone and on went the cast. It was during January, oddly enough, and I was back in action with no ill effects in about 5-6 weeks. Used a grip trainer to restore strength to the hand, no ill effects whatsoever. I suspect you'll be back in business before the doc's think; just take it easy, exercise when they say to start, and best of luck.

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I broke my 4th metacarpal on right hand 4 years ago when I was 24. I used to hit balls everyday but after breaking my hand in a freak driving range accident it was more mental than anything to come back from. I didnt have surgery to repair it, just had it reset and let it heal. When I was finally given the go ahead to play again I switched to double overlap grip like Furyk for about 2 months just to take the right hand out of it.

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I had the same kind of deal except that the bone crushed and knuckle kind of squashed itself back onto the metacarpal (probably on the 2nd or 3rd punch, hehehe) and stuck itself there so I didn't have surgery. Did that in the winter and was back playing no problem in the spring, pain free. Bone is about 1/4" shorter than before.

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6 weeks ago similar injury. Stepped on playing basketball. Broken 4th metacarpal. Well aligned so non-operative. To this day it still hurts on occasions. I do not have full strength or motion, but it is getting better. About 4 week in I started messing around with holding a club. I was only able to hold with the Furyk double overlap. Another week later I could do a single overlap with slight discomfort. Now at 6 weeks I am finally able to interlock again. It get better each day. Now I was allowed to use my hand normally, but needed to rest it a lot. You just need to remember not to do anything dumb to it. It was my dominant hand and I would always hit something with it.

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  • 1 month later...

broken 5th metacarpal in right hand several times, does heal up pretty nicely but was more easily broken the next time. if this was your first break in that area I think you should be fine, fracturing it over and over again is the problem. I've never had the surgery just had it reset every time but thinking I may need it. would like to know how it went/healing give us an update.

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im also recovering from that as well. broke the 5th metacarpal in my right hand and also had to get the pins put in. seven weeks later, the cast and pins are finally off and my hand is wrapped up with simple bandages to let the puncture of the pins heal for a few days. my hand is extremely stiff and there is still a bit of swelling, but the wrist exercises and fingers movements the doctor has me doing are great and my hand feels stronger today than it did yesterday. putting seems to be okay, but i was advised not to hit balls for another six weeks after removing the pins and cast. i just hope i can get back to form by summer...

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Good luck. I had the fracture and the orthopedic did not insert pins and I also had bone spurs from the break that had to be surgically removed. It took several months for the swelling to go down.

[quote name='Kevin N.' timestamp='1299610788' post='3037227']
im also recovering from that as well. broke the 5th metacarpal in my right hand and also had to get the pins put in. seven weeks later, the cast and pins are finally off and my hand is wrapped up with simple bandages to let the puncture of the pins heal for a few days. my hand is extremely stiff and there is still a bit of swelling, but the wrist exercises and fingers movements the doctor has me doing are great and my hand feels stronger today than it did yesterday. putting seems to be okay, but i was advised not to hit balls for another six weeks after removing the pins and cast. i just hope i can get back to form by summer...
[/quote]

[i][b]In the Bag:[/b][/i]
Driver - Ping 430 Max 10.5 Degree - Tensei 1K 70g  45"

Fairway Woods: Wilson Dynapower (2023) 5 and 7 woods
Irons: 6 - PW trade between Titleist T200 Steel Fiber i110s, and Wilson Staffs +1" - Shafts Project X LZ 5.5
Hybrids: Ping G425 26 degree Titleist TSi2 17 and 23 degree…..Shaft Project X 90 Hyb +1"
PW: Wilson Staff Custom 52 SW: Cleveland CBX Full Face 56 10 bounce
Putter: Jon Rham Limited Naked Rossie 
Ball: Wilson Staff, Pro V or Callaway Chrome Soft
Bag: Datrek 

Cart: Bagboy Quad

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Broke 4th and 5th in my right hand about 8 years a go now, I have now had 5 operations to try and fix ongoing problems. I have been left with Arthritis in my hand and have not got full range of movement with my little finger, doesn't cause my any issues really on the course. After my operations though it took quite a while to regain the strength in my hand, at one point the only way I could play was with a baseball grip.

Driver = Callaway Smoke-Ai Max-D 

3 wood = Callaway Smoke-Ai Max HL

3 Hybrid = Taylormade Stealth Pro
Irons = 4-PW Miura KM 700
Gap Wedge = Miura HB 50*

Sand Wedge = Taylormade MG3 TW 56*

Putter = LAB DF3

Ball = TP5x v’s Chrome Tour 

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[quote name='Kevin N.' timestamp='1299648477' post='3039139']
Im hoping with the exercises the orthopedist has me doing, i can regain mobility in my hand asap haha.
[/quote]
Stick with it mate.

I broke my left index and ring finger whilst playing football (soccer) and I made the mistake of not doing the exercises I was given. I used to interlock before the break and I had to play with a baseball grip for a while. I now overlap but ten years on I can't make a complete closed fist with my left hand. I start to feel it after hitting a lot of balls and I think I'll suffer in my later years.

Don't be stupid and ignore it like I did!

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I'm 36 and suffered a colles fracture in my left wrist about 7 months ago. Unlike the others, the wrist was deformed and needed to be stabilized with a titanium plate (not quite 460cc). I don't have problems with grip at all, but still don't have full motion without some pain. I started playing regularly about a month ago and the biggest problem is the vibration. So, if I'm hitting well, it's not a problem. If, I'm a bit off or playing out of the rough a lot, the hand starts to hurt and my swing goes to @#$%. I was able to start putting and do some 1/4 and 1/2 swing chipping after about 4 months. After 6 months, I started with 3/4 swing and then bought a used set of regular graphite shafted MX-25s to help dampen the effect a bit. I've lost about 2 clubs of length, but I can live with that for now. I am also considering a set of higher quality graphite for my long-term gamers, especially since my OT says I will likely end up with arthritis in my wrist. Ultimately, you should be able to find a way to play when the weather gets better, just be willing to play 1/2 or 3/4 until you pain lessens. Good Luck.

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  • 2 years later...

Hi im 20 and broke the neck of my 5th metacarpal on my right hand about 35 days ago (with about 40 degrees of angulation) by punching a wall (stupid i know). I've been to the hospital and the doctor said the no treatment would be the preferable course of action with another 6 weeks avoiding any contact sports.
Being a golfer obviously the first thing i did was try to make a golf grip and it seemed to be ok i hit a golf ball about 1 week ago and didnt hurt too much. Just wondering if anyone had had any similar experiences and any experience of the rehab of this particular injury. Being a 4 handicap golfer obviously im a bit worried that this may affect that standard of my golf and my ability to grip the club.


thanks for all your help

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My advice is to just rest up despite how difficult it is to stay away from hitting balls. When your cast comes off, give it another couple weeks and go hit some balls or chip and pitch and see how you feel. My hand was kinda fragile or felt delicate after my cast came off. After a month or two, you should be able to hit balls without any problems.

Source: I was in the same situation and posted a few posts above haha

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