A crush injury occurs when a body part is “crushed” by a high degree of force or pressure. These injuries often occur from being squeezed between two heavy objects, or having something very large or heavy fall on oneself.

Crush injuries can result in bleeding, bruising, fractures, wounds and lacerations and can also have very serious side effects such as compartment syndrome (increased pressure that causes serious muscle, nerve and tissue damage), nerve injuries, and secondary infections.

Because hand function is vital for most of our daily tasks, crush injuries often occur to the fingers, hands, and wrists. These body parts are simply at higher risk– adults injuring themselves at work is a common cause, and the majority of hand trauma injuries seen in the ER are children with crush injuries to their fingertips (after accidentally being slammed in doors).

If you have experienced a crush injury, you should immediately have yourself examined by a doctor. Not all injuries can be seen, especially if the skin is still intact. An X-ray will help determine if there are broken bones or fractures. Depending on the severity, a crush injury may require a splint or cast for proper healing. If the injury is very serious, surgery may be required.

Moderate to severe crush injuries usually require rehabilitation and hand therapy to ensure the patient’s fingers, hand or wrist resumes its original mobility, comfort, and functionality. Depending on the extent of the injury or trauma, strength training may take several weeks or even months. At Midwest Hand Therapy, it is always our goal to not only heal, but also to help prevent future injury. Range of motion hand exercises and special hand strength training tools are often incorporated into a crush injury patient’s recovery program.

If you are currently recovering from a crush injury and have questions or concerns, please contact our team. If you have recently experienced a crush injury, as advised earlier, seeking immediate medical attention is highly recommended.