If you’ve injured your hand, bandages can reduce swelling, restrict movement, and provide support to the muscles, bones, and joints.
Certain hand injuries may heal better when bandaged. These include:
Most minor hand injuries may heal on their own. Serious hand injuries require immediate medical assistance.
Read on to find out when to bandage an injured hand, how to apply a bandage, and when to seek medical attention.
Here are some common hand injuries that may require bandaging, as well as signs that you should seek medical assistance.
What it is: A hand fracture occurs when you break one or more of the bones in your hand. The most common hand fracture is a boxer’s fracture, which occurs when you break one of the bones at the base of your knuckles, where the fingers meet the hand.
When to seek medical assistance: You should see a doctor immediately if you think your hand is broken.
Some common signs and symptoms of a hand fracture include:
When to use a bandage: A bandage is sometimes used in the place of a splint or a cast to restrict the movement of a broken hand or finger.
However, a broken bone must be aligned before bandaging. A doctor can align your broken bone and help you understand how to care for it afterward, including whether you need to use a bandage.
What it is: A hand sprain is an injury that occurs when you stretch or tear a ligament, which is the tissue that connects the bones in your hand. This often affects the thumb.
When to seek medical attention: Sprains are rarely medical emergencies, but they do require treatment. Make an appointment with a doctor to understand how best to care for a sprain. You should also see a doctor if the pain or swelling in your hand is getting worse.
When to use a bandage: A compression bandage can help maintain pressure around the sprained area. This minimizes swelling by preventing fluid buildup at the site of the sprain, helping your hand heal faster. A doctor might recommend a specialized device to immobilize your hand, such as a splint.
What it is: A hand strain occurs when you stretch or tear the muscles or tendons in your hand. This type of injury is common in the tendons that connect the wrist and forearm muscles to the fingers. It’s typically caused by repetitive movements such as typing or using a mouse.
When to seek medical attention: Like sprains, muscle strains are not medical emergencies. However, you may visit a doctor to understand the source of your strain and how best to treat it.
When to use a bandage: As with a sprain, a compression bandage will help to immobilize the injured area and maintain pressure. A doctor might recommend a specialized device to immobilize your hand, such as a splint.
What it is: Wounds, such as lacerations (cuts) or punctures, occur when the skin is torn. These types of injuries are common on the hands and fingers. They’re often the result of accidents handling sharp objects, such as kitchen knives.
When to seek medical attention: Many hand wounds are minor and will heal on their own. However, keep in mind that your hands contain a high number of nerve endings, tendons, and blood vessels in a small space. Even a small hand wound can cause a lot of damage.
You should seek medical attention for any of the following:
When to use a bandage: Bandages help to keep minor hand wounds clean. After rinsing a minor wound, apply antibiotic ointment and cover the wound with a gauze bandage. If the wound is small, use a plaster. You should change the bandage about once a day, or whenever the bandage becomes wet or dirty.
What it is: Burns are another common injury on the hands and fingers. They’re caused by exposure to heat, including sun, flames, or hot substances. Other types of burns are caused by cold, chemicals, and electricity.
When to seek medical attention: Minor hand burns don’t usually require emergency care.
You should seek emergency medical care right away for a major burn on your hand. Check for the following signs of a major burn:
When to use a bandage: Bandages can help to improve burn healing. After cooling and moisturizing a burn, applying a loose gauze bandage to the affected area of your hand will protect damaged skin.
Different injuries require different bandages. Some bandage types include:
Follow these basic instructions to bandage your hand after a minor injury.
When bandaging your hand, take the following precautions to ensure a smooth healing process:
If you’re in doubt about your hand injury, call a doctor to ask if you need treatment. Common hand injuries that require medical treatment include:
If you’ve injured your hand, a bandage might be able to help in the healing process. If your hand injury is serious, you should seek treatment right away.
If your hand injury is minor, a bandage can provide stability, reduce your chances of infection, and quicken healing time.
Last medically reviewed on November 22, 2019
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