Hand Fracture Treatment North Shore, Sydney

✅ Accredited Hand Therapist

✅ Broken Hand Rehabilitation

Expert Treatment and Rehabilitation for Broken Hands and Hand Fractures

Hand Therapy Experts is a hand therapy clinic providing evidence-based hand fracture treatment to patients on Sydney’s North Shore and across the Northern Beaches. We assess and develop a tailored treatment program aimed at a smooth and speedy recovery through non-surgical techniques.

Accredited Hand Therapist Chen Li has over ten years of experience treating all broken hand injuries to restore grip, flexibility, and full function.

Whether you’ve broken a finger, thumb, or metacarpal, our non-invasive hand fracture solutions aim to reduce pain and support healing so you can regain normal use.

Hand Fracture In Plaster Hand Therapy Experts

Book Appointment

Book your hand fracture care online at one of our Sydney clinics or call 1300 33 HAND – No referral needed.

What Is a Hand Fracture?

There are 27 bones in the hand, including carpal bones, metacarpal bones and phalangeal bones of the fingers.

A hand fracture is a break in one or more of the hand bones. Breaks that do not involve the joint surface may be managed conservatively, whereas others that do may require surgery.

Seeking early treatment improves your healing outcome and reduces the risk of complications after surgery (if surgery is required).

Hand Therapy Experts CHen Li Talking To A Patient Through Their Xray

Who Is Most at Risk for a Broken Hand?

Hand fractures are one of the most common injuries treated by hand therapists. While anyone is susceptible to one, some people are at higher risk due to their activities.

Sports Players – Those who play contact sports like basketball, netball, or who play in more physical leagues like the AFL add more stress to the hands and fingers, making them more prone to fractures.
Active Workers & Tradies – People who specialise in manual trades like plumbers, bricklayers and carpenters. Those who work in construction sites and in manufacturing jobs are also regularly exposed to impact, crush and machinery-related hand injuries.
People Who Have Had An Accident – Something as simple as a fall onto an outstretched hand is one of the most common causes of injury, and according to trauma research, is involved in over two-thirds of upper limb fracture presentations.
Older Adults – As you age, your bone density reduces, which increases the risk of a fracture.

Common Signs and Symptoms of a Hand Fracture

Not all broken hand injuries are immediately obvious and can be deceptively subtle. Symptoms range from instant pain and visible deformities to subtle aching that mimics a bad sprain.

🦴 You may feel a significant pain or a deep throbbing ache that spikes the moment you move your fingers or press on the injured area.
🤚 You may notice swelling and bruising; puffiness and purple-blue discolouration that flares up within minutes of the injury.
👁️ Visible deformities like a crooked finger, or a knuckle that seems to have sunken inward, or a bone visibly out of alignment.
✂️ Fingers that overlap like a pair of scissors when you try to bend them – a classic sign that a bone has moved out of position.

When Should You See a Hand Therapist After a Fracture?

If you have a fracture in your hand that may not need surgery, we recommend booking an appointment with us as soon as possible. Not all fractures will need a trip to the emergency department, but earlier assessment gives your injury the best chance of a smooth recovery.

For closed and undisplaced hand fractures, we offer same-day bookings and conservative treatment at our North Shore and Northern Beaches clinics.

Not only will earlier diagnosis and treatment help avoid having the bone heal in the wrong position, but help reduce chronic stiffness. We can assess whether you need to see a surgeon if required.

If you are experiencing any of the following, we recommend going directly to your nearest emergency department:

A bone breaking through the skin
A finger or digit sitting at a visibly abnormal angle
A wound that will not stop bleeding
Pins and needles or numbness that doesn’t improve with elevation

Immediate Intervention: Urgent Hand Fracture Appointments

Hand fractures are complex injuries involving a network of bones, nerves, and blood vessels that can be easily injured. Should you suspect you have broken your hand, we recommend being seen sooner rather than later.

The sooner a fracture is assessed, the earlier we can provide the appropriate diagnosis, treatment and guidance to reduce the risk of any long-term complications.

Book Emergency Appointment

Or call 1300 33 HAND

If you are experiencing symptoms such as an open wound or visible deformity, please go directly to your nearest emergency department.

Common Types of Hand Fractures We Treat

Broken hand bones vary widely in type, location and severity. Below are the most common types we treat at Hand Therapy Experts. We also treat a full range of hand, finger and wrist injuries across all activity levels.

Boxer’s Fracture: A break in the knuckle bone of your little or pinky finger. Usually happens when a clenched fist is subjected to a direct or high-impact force, such as punching a wall or a door.
Distal Radius Fracture: This is a wrist fracture near the base of the hand and is one of the most common types of wrist injuries. Something as simple as a fall onto an outstretched hand can cause this.
Metacarpal Fractures: Affect the palm bones connecting the wrist to the fingers and account for 40% of all hand injuries.
Hairline Fractures: Appear as a thin crack in the bone that can be easy to miss. This usually feels like a bad sprain.
Phalangeal Fractures: Breaks in finger or thumb bones when a high-impact force is applied like crushing, jamming or twisting.
Thumb Fractures: Usually a break anywhere along the thumb bones or at the base joint where your thumb meets the wrist. Because the thumb is mobile, a break here usually happens from a hard, direct impact, like catching a ball awkwardly or falling onto an outstretched hand.
Mallet Fracture: A break right at the very tip of the finger, affecting the distal phalanx. Also known as “mallet finger”, it occurs when a ball or hard object hits the very tip of an extended finger, causing the fingertip to droop.
Scaphoid Fracture: “A small bone in the wrist, often fractured by a fall onto an outstretched hand. This injury can be complex and require careful management to prevent long-term issues like arthritis, chronic pain or reduced mobility.

Our Process – How We Identify a Hand Fracture

📋

Taking Your History

Date of injury
How the injury occurred
Medical history
Social history: hand dominance, hobbies and work
Treatments to date

🖐️

Physical Assessment

Palpating the injured area
Assessing for deformity or finger rotation
Assessing swelling and bruising

🩻

Imaging

Reviewing imaging scans
X-ray referral
CT or MRI referral if required

🏥

Hand Surgeon Referral

Unstable, open, displaced or intra-articular fractures
Unclear diagnosis
If symptoms don’t improve
Tendon injury requiring surgery

Non-Surgical and Post-Surgical Hand Fracture Treatment

Our Specialised Rehabilitation Programs

Hand Therapy Experts provide a wide range of conservative and non-surgical treatment options for adults and children. We also offer post-surgical therapy for patients who have undergone hand surgery.

Core Treatments

Custom Splinting and Casting: To immobilise the fracture, allowing the broken bone to heal. The cast may be waterproof, and splints can be removed for better hygiene, with clearance from our team or a surgeon.

Hand Exercise Program: A guided exercise program for stable fractures can help with bone healing. We will introduce a customised program based on your injury and healing timeframe

Pain and Swelling Management: Swelling may be controlled through gentle elevation and a compression bandage. We will provide you with treatment options to reduce swelling and manage your pain.

Activity Modification and Education: Our hand therapist will advise you on activity modifications for sport, hobbies and work. Once your fracture has healed, you can resume your usual activities.

When Surgery Is Required

Hand surgeon review is recommended if the fracture is unstable, a large fragment or within the joint (intra-articular). You will also need a referral if the fracture involves a tendon injury that requires intervention. Working closely with hand surgeons, we can liaise your case with one of them to determine whether this is required.

Post-Surgical Rehabilitation: After surgery for a hand fracture, you will be referred by your surgeon for post-op hand therapy. Our treatment includes dressing change, splinting or casting, range of motion exercises, scar massage and strengthening.

Hand Fracture Recovery – Estimated Timeframes

Fracture Type	Typical Recovery (Conservative)
Boxer’s Fracture	4–12 weeks
Metacarpal Fracture	4–12 weeks
Phalangeal Fracture	4–12 weeks
Thumb Fracture	4–12 weeks
Mallet Fracture	6–12 weeks
Scaphoid Fracture	6–12 weeks

Please note: These timeframes are estimates only. Actual recovery will vary depending on the severity and location of your fracture, your age, activity level and how early treatment begins. Recovery following surgery will vary depending on the procedure. Your hand surgeon will guide you on expected timeframes.

Meet Your Expert Hand Therapist, Chen

Chen Li Hand Therapist At Hand Theray Experts

Chen Li is an Accredited Hand Therapist (AHTA) and Certified Hand Therapist (USA) based on Sydney’s North Shore and Northern Beaches, with over a decade of experience treating broken hands. Chen provides evidence-based and holistic hand fracture treatment – restoring strength, movement and full function.

Accredited Hand Therapist (AHTA)

Australian accreditation

Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)

USA certification

Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy)

NSW Hand Surgery Association

Associate Member

Multilingual Consultations

English, Mandarin & Shanghainese

Our Accreditations

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Know If My Hand Is Fractured?

You may feel pain at the injured finger after trauma, such as a fall or an injury against a ball or another object. To confirm a hand fracture, an X-ray is required.

Can You Still Move Your Hand If It’s Fractured?

This depends on where the hand fracture is located. Some stable hand fractures allow for controlled early active movement exercises, guided by your hand therapist or hand surgeon. Please discuss your case with your care provider before commencing movement or strengthening.

Is My Hand Broken Or Just Sprained?

A broken hand involves a fracture, whereas a sprain involves a soft-tissue injury to the ligaments or joint, without a break. To confirm the injury type, an X-ray is needed.

Can A Fractured Hand Heal On Its Own?

Stable hand fractures can heal with conservative management, which involves hand therapy, splinting and exercises. Fractures that are unstable, involve a large portion of the hand bone, or are within the joint will most likely require surgery. Your hand surgeon will advise on the best course of action.

How Long Does A Hand Fracture Take To Heal?

This depends on which part of the hand bone is injured. Most hand fractures heal within 12 weeks. However, more complex cases can take up to 6 months or longer.

Do You Treat Children With Hand Fractures?

Yes. We treat children and adolescents where hand therapy is appropriate. Learn more about our paediatric hand therapy services and how we help children recover from hand and upper limb injuries.

What Activities Should I Avoid During Recovery?

This depends on where you are in your recovery timeline. As a general rule, you should avoid heavy lifting or gym exercises involving the injured hand until you commence strengthening exercises with your hand therapist. Please discuss your activity limitations during healing with your hand therapist or surgeon.

How Much Does An Appointment Cost?

Consultation fees vary depending on the length of the appointment and the type of splint required. Contact us on 1300 33 HAND or book online, and we will confirm pricing before your visit.