Complications of hand fractures: strategies for prevention and management

Various complications can occur after hand fractures. Among them, joint stiffness and malunion are the most common and significant complications, which are often accompanied by tendon adhesions and joint contracture. Careful evaluations of injury characteristics, such as fracture patterns, alignment, and soft tissue injury, are the first step to select appropriate management strategies and prevent complications of hand fractures. Close observation of its clinical prognosis is also essential for early detection and preemptive management of complications. Management of complications includes immobilization, rehabilitation, and various surgical techniques such as tenolysis or capsular release for joint stiffness, corrective osteotomy for malunion, and revisional fixation with bone graft for nonunion. The authors discuss prevention, early recognition, and management strategies for complications of hand fractures in this review.