Talk:Boxer's fracture

How does one get such a fracture?
As a Taekwondo sort of person, I don't really understand how these fractures could be so common. How exactly do boxers punch in such a way that the pinky knuckle is the furthest-forward and the first knuckle to hit? The article seems to assume the reader already knows how that could happen. --Gwern (contribs) 12:08 17 March 2009 (GMT)

I just gave a friend at Taekwondo this fracture, he did a low section block into my ankle as I did a turning kick. Any one that punches with the smallest three knuckles could get this fracture on the 'pinky knuckle', regardless of whether it is the first to hit or not. Handsofftibet (talk) 11:32, 14 February 2011 (UTC)

ANYONE that punches something and breaks a metacarpal neck, is told they have a break on the neck of the metacarpal bone, also known as boxers fracture purely because the PUNCHED something, not because they are into boxing/martial arts... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.151.54.137 (talk) 16:28, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

Called a Boxer's fracture because the fist may slide against the sweat of the skin when landing a punch, causing more likelihood of injury to 4th and 5th metacarpal. Known as a saturday night special for brawling ulnar hammer landings. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.227.98.98 (talk) 23:23, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

Images are wrong
A boxers is a fracture of the first or second metatarsal head well a scappers fracture is a fracture of the 4 / 5th. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 03:37, 2 May 2010 (UTC) It happend when you unch something really hard with a clenched fist like a wall — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.203.184.82 (talk) 21:18, 11 July 2011 (UTC)

Contradiction in definition. Inappropriate title?
As the previous section suggests, there is something wrong with the definition of a boxer's fracture. According to the lead, a boxer's fracture is in the second or third metacarpal. But the Anatomy section and the image imply a boxer's fracture may be in the fourth and fifth metacarpals ("Boxers fracture generally occurs in the 4th and/or 5th metacarpal of the hand"). acknowledges that there are several definitions of a boxer's fracture:
 * Boxer's fractures occur in the metacarpal bones that connect the ring finger or the little finger to the wrist. These are known as the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones. Some doctors include breaks in the neck of the second and third metacarpal bones in the definition of a boxer's fracture.

Furthermore, as explained in the above article and in this article, boxer's fracture is not a great name anyway. Metacarpal neck fracture could be more accurate.

I tagged the article as contradictory, until it uses "boxer's fracture" consistently. Should the article be renamed to eliminate ambiguity? --Chealer (talk) 19:21, 7 May 2012 (UTC)

3 positives: 1.In the introduction paragraph, it correctly describe the mechanism of the injury. It also mentions another injury that is caused by almost the same mechanism. 2.The anatomical section clearly describe the anatomy of the hand. It listed all the bones that could be involved in the injury. 3.On the cause section it renders a more detailed description about the mechanism of the injury, and how proper forms could avoid the injury. 3 problems: 1.One of the picture shown in the Wikipedia page appear to very vague. It does not have a description, and readers cannot know which section does that picture belong. 2.Another picture that is placed adjacent to the prevention section appear to be unrelated to the section. The prevention talks about proper fist form and hand wraps while the picture shows 'block and punch' a move in karate. 3.The treatment section give ample amount of information about surgical information, but not so much about the physical therapy approach. It could have provide some information about post surgical rehabilitation exercises. Kin412a (talk) 08:20, 12 May 2012 (UTC)


 * The problem with the definition is that "boxer fracture" is not a specific medical term. Some definitions say it refers to the fracture of any metacarpal neck, and others say it specifies only the 4th or 5th. See this page which includes the definitions from five different medical dictionaries. So, it's definitely appropriate to reword the first paragraph where it claims specific definitions of Boxer's vs Bar Room fractures. (That distinction isn't supported by references.) Further, it might be appropriate to create synonym redirects so that e.g. Bar Room Fracture redirects to this article. Auraseer (talk) 03:59, 22 June 2015 (UTC)
 * I've had one from swinging and missing. The doctor in the UK specifically called it "a boxer's fracture" and I popped here to crib the image to explain what I did and what had resulted.
 * Mine was the little pinkie. I don't know how the bones are counted. 94.197.104.88 (talk) 17:50, 16 April 2024 (UTC)

Contradiction in Causes section
Early in this section is the statement that "The knuckle of the ring finger tends to lead the rest of the knuckles in a hard punch".

Towards the end of the same paragraph it says "the knuckle of the index finger tends to lead the rest of the knuckles in a hard punch."

I can't see how both of those statements can be correct. --Gronk Oz (talk) 13:50, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

Not always caused by punching - potential for stigma, particularly against women
Transverse metacarpal neck fractures can be caused by other mechanisms than punching. In females, maybe psychiatric patients make up the majority of punching injuries, but not all females (or males) get this kind of fracture from punching. Any kind of falling or tumbling on a hard surface can result in a boxer's fracture, especially if the fisted hand is used in an attempt to break the fall. There is no mention in this article of causes other than punching, which I thing stigmatizes this injury, especially among women. My only source is a female friend who fell down the stairs (17 of them, all un-carpeted hardwood) after tripping over her kids' toys, and she tried to break her fall with her right hand in a fist. She sustained a fracture of the 5th metacarpal, which her orthopedic hand and foot specialist is calling a boxer's fracture. I myself was in a motorcycle accident 5 years ago and sustained a similar fracture as I was rolling across the pavement at 45 mph. My hand hit the pavement at very high speed. I don't know how common these accidental causes are, but I think there should be mention of them because there is potential for stigma, especially against women. And yes, I know my anecdotes are not a RS, but this is not an area I am well versed in, and I don't know the literature. Thanks. Dcs002 (talk) 17:47, 11 March 2016 (UTC)


 * I agree. The fracture is caused by trauma to the metacarpal, most commonly seen in bareknuckle boxing and brawling but could just as easily (and is perhaps more likely) to be caused by someone with poor mental health striking a wall or hard door in frustration. I wonder if there are any figures of "reported" cause. There's such stigma to mental health patients to even discuss this stuff it's likely a lot are attributed to street violence when the patient has internalised anger, doesn't want to strike another human being and lashes out in a way that they know is going to hurt. 94.197.104.88 (talk) 17:58, 16 April 2024 (UTC)

Comment moved here
"The second paragraph has 2 conclusions/statements that are false. The first has no reference just the aurthor assuption, and the second error lists a single reference but it doesnt support the authors conclusion that its drawing it from. The first error is the claim that proper punching technique involves using 2nd and 3rd metacarples. Clearly this is an unfounded assuption, although a common one, but with no reference listed. Second incorrect conclusion by the author is that fractures of the 2nd and 3rd knuckles and metacarples is rare while 4th and 5th metacarple fractures make up the vast majority. Although the reference is listed one cannot come to such conclusion based on the reference given because that study only used data from fractures that only involved 4th and 5th metacarples. It did not include any data from 1st, 2nd, or 3rd metacarples to compare which out of all these is most common fracture. Even the title itself tells you this. False conclusion based on this reference listed #9. Please correct. 9. Soong, M; Got, C; Katarincic, J (Aug 2010). "Ring and little finger metacarpal fractures: mechanisms, locations, and radiographic parameters". The Journal of hand surgery"


 * Please read WP:MEDRS. We do not tend to use small primary sources. Best Doc James  (talk · contribs · email) 15:31, 13 November 2017 (UTC)