A Perfect Fix for a Perfect Recovery. 

A broken bone in the intricate anatomy of the hand or wrist requires more than just time to heal. The alignment of the broken fragments needs to be acceptable while at the same time stabilization (either with a cast or done surgically) should allow for other joints to be permitted to move and not get stiff to ensure a complete return to function. The body’s own ability to heal is critically important, so factors such as smoking need to be addressed in a holistic approach to good fracture care and management. We provide expert surgical fracture care when appropriate, using advanced techniques to precisely restore your anatomy and give you the best possible long-term outcome. Surgery is not always needed however and we like to keep in mind that we get our experience with the surgeries we do, but we make our reputation from the surgeries we do not do. 

How Your Fracture Heals Determines Your Future Function. 

A fracture, or broken bone, is a significant and painful injury. While many fractures can heal on their own, the key to a successful recovery lies in how they heal. Because every fracture has its own personality, our focus during initial assessment is on more than just the bone’s alignment; we look at how stable the fracture is, whether or not the break is in multiple pieces (comminuted) or not, and thoroughly assess the hand and wrist to ensure no secondary injuries get missed.  We like to lay out all the treatment options, the pros and cons of each, and then match these with your personal goals, hobbies, and specific needs.
  
A keen eye is kept on how things will heal in the fourth dimension…..over time….to try to ensure the best outcome not just in the short term but in the log term.   

A Game of Millimeters 

• Body Copy: The hand and wrist are incredibly complex, containing dozens of small bones and joints that must all work together in perfect harmony. In this intricate system, even a tiny shift in alignment of just one or two millimeters can have major consequences. A fracture that heals even slightly crooked (a “malunion”) can disrupt the mechanics of the entire hand, leading to significant long-term problems like stiffness, weakness, a visible deformity, and painful post-traumatic arthritis. This is why achieving a near-perfect anatomical alignment is our primary goal. 

Expertise Across the Full Spectrum of Hand & Wrist Fractures 

Wrist Fractures

• We provide specialized surgical care for all types of wrist fractures, from the common Distal Radius Fracture (a “broken wrist”) to the notoriously difficult-to-heal Scaphoid Fracture, which requires precise fixation to prevent long-term complications. With over 25 years of experience focused on hand and wrist injuries and an ever-curious mind, we have seen and treated all of the uncommon fractures as well. 

Hand Fractures

• Fractures of the metacarpal bones in the hand, such as the common “Boxer’s Fracture,” often do not require surgery.  In some instances such as the professional athlete or musician, there may be advantages to early surgical treatment.  These warrant a very careful discussion of the increased risk of surgery balanced against a potential earlier return to function.   

Finger Fractures 

• While small, the bones in your fingers (phalanges) are critical for fine motor skills. Precise treatment of finger fractures is essential to prevent permanent stiffness, deformity, and a loss of dexterity. Achieving early stability in the fracture to prevent stiffness is an important consideration, especially when more than one finger is fractured. 

Restoring Your Anatomy with Precision 

For fractures that are displaced, unstable, or involve a joint surface, the gold-standard treatment is a surgical procedure called Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF). 

• Open Reduction: This means the surgeon makes a precise incision to directly see and access the broken bone. This allows for the bone fragments to be perfectly put back into their natural anatomical alignment under direct vision. 

• Internal Fixation: Once the bones are perfectly aligned, they are held securely in place with modern, low-profile internal hardware, such as specialized plates, screws, and pins. This provides rigid stability, allowing the bone to heal in the correct position while often enabling earlier, safer motion to prevent stiffness. 

More Than Just Setting a Bone 

A successful fracture surgery is about more than just the bone; it’s also a delicate soft tissue surgery. The ultimate function of your hand depends on the health of the surrounding tendons, nerves, and skin. As a reconstructive plastic surgeon with a Harvard fellowship in Hand and Microsurgery, Dr. French brings a unique and comprehensive perspective. His expertise ensures that not only is the bone meticulously fixed, but that all the surrounding soft tissues are handled with the utmost care to minimize scarring, prevent stiffness, and facilitate a complete recovery. 

For a New Injury 

If you have sustained a traumatic injury and believe you may have a broken bone, please seek immediate medical attention at the nearest emergency room or urgent care center for an initial evaluation and X-rays.