What causes swollen hand and fingers after a hand fracture?
Patient: my 77 year old mother broke her radious and luna bone three weeks ago...she is in a nursing home waiting to see if she needs surgury...she is a diabetic....her hand and fingers have been swollen for three weeks...is this normal for it to be swollen for this long? Doctor: Dear patient Swelling of hand and forearm occurs after every fracture of forearm bones and persists for 3 to 4 days in normal cases if treated properly.  If she is waiting for surgery due to diabetes following  should be done 1. Above elbow slab  should be given to splint  the fracture 2.  Forearm should be kept elevated  on saline stand 3. Fingers should be moved actively  4.  Medication  like chymoral forte needs to be taken for 5 days initially. If all this things are not followed swelling persists. Onother reason may be tight slab application as it hampers venous drainage. So please check all this things and follow this properly swelling will reduce in few days. All the best.