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Hockey Injuries
Injuries occurring in hockey include those occurring by the stick, ball, running or to the limbs of the players.
Some of the commonly occurring injuries in hockey are:Finger Fractures
Most finger fractures are relatively stable and minor. They require little more than buddy-taping, splinting, and protecting from re-injury. These types of fractures are sometimes referred to as hairline fractures, small avulsion fractures, and non-displaced fractures.
Not infrequently, however, fractures can be more severe and unstable, and at increased risk of becoming worse. Fractures that involve the finger joints, that have the two fractured pieces significantly separated, and that are considered "open" (skin is cut open to expose the fracture) are all considered unstable and more severe.
The consequences of improper treatment are loss of full movement of finger joints, loss of fine control of finger, decreased grip strength, and chronic pain. Therefore, it's very important to properly identify these injuries.
Hand Fractures
Due to the exposure to sticks and the hockey ball, the long bones are more commonly fractured. A fall on an outstretched hand is the most common way carpal bones are injured. Just as with the fingers, a metacarpal or carpal fracture can be stable and minor or unstable and severe.
While finger fractures are relatively easy to see due to the separation of the fingers and mostly being composed of bones, it can be challenging to diagnose hand fractures since the bones are surrounded by soft tissue (muscle, tendons, ligaments, and fat) and are grouped together within the hand.
However, casting the hand and wrist for hand fractures is commonly used to maximize stabilization and, thus, healing of the fractures. Any "sprained" or "bruised" wrist or hand that is not improving over one week should be carefully evaluated by a physician.
Finger Tendon and Ligament Injuries
Tendons (which connect muscle to bone) and ligaments (which connect bone to bone) serve as the primary stabilizers and functional control of the fingers and hand. As such, they are at risk for various injuries including sprains, strains, and complete tears or ruptures. Ice, anti-inflammatory medication, and buddy-taping are the treatments of choice for most sprains and strains, commonly known as "jammed fingers".
Additional treatment, however, is required in unstable sprains and strains and in complete tears of ligaments or ruptures of tendons. The results of not properly treating these more severe injuries include loss of strength, loss of function, contractures leading to malformations of the fingers, and increased risk of recurrent injuries.