The metacarpals are the five long bones in the hand that connect the fingers to the wrist. A boxer's fracture is a break in the end of the metacarpal bone near where it joins the pinky finger (little finger).

The orthopedic (bone) specialist put a cast on your child's hand to keep it still while the bone heals. They will see your child regularly and probably do more X-rays to make sure the bone is healing well. Most boxer's fractures heal in about 6–8 weeks. 

Take care of the cast and treat pain as instructed to keep your child comfortable while the bone heals.

Follow your orthopedic specialist's recommendations for:

• caring for the cast
• when it's OK to use the fingers of the broken hand for things like writing and picking things up
• any exercises your child should do and when to start them (usually around 3 weeks after the cast was put on)
• whether your child should see an occupational therapist or a hand specialist
• what activities to avoid (such as sports)
• when your child can go back to sports and if they need to wear protective gear
• any protective gear needed after the cast is removed
• when to follow up

To help with swelling:

• Prop up the hand on pillows when your child is sitting down or sleeping. 
• Remind your child to wiggle the uninjured fingers and the thumb to keep blood circulating normally.

If your child has pain:

• When your child is awake, put ice in a plastic bag wrapped in a towel on the hand for 20 minutes every 3 hours for up to 2 days. Don't put ice directly on the skin.
• Follow your orthopedic specialist's recommendations for giving any pain medicines. This may include acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand), ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand), or prescription pain medicine. Some prescription pain medicines also contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen. To avoid giving too much, give the medicines exactly as directed.

Daily care for the cast:

• Check the area around the cast. Make sure the skin isn't scratched, and the thumb and fingers aren't pale, blue, numb, or tingling.
• Make sure your child doesn't pick at or scratch under the cast.
• Don't put anything in the cast. Make sure your child doesn't put toys, food, or anything else into it.
• Keep dirt, sand, lotion, and powder away from the cast.

Keep the cast dry:

• Younger children can get a sponge bath. For regular baths or showers, you can cover the cast with:
  • two plastic bags sealed at the top with a rubber band (or tape)
  • plastic wrap covered with a plastic bag that is sealed at the top
  • a waterproof cast protector
• If the cast gets splashed, blow air into it from a hair dryer on the cool setting.

• Blisters, rashes, or raw spots appear on the skin around the cast.
• Your child's pain isn't helped by pain medicine. 
• Your child gets a fever.
• The cast is too loose or too tight.
• The cast gets wet, is damaged, or has a foul odor.

How does a boxer's fracture happen? It usually happens when someone punches something or someone, especially if they swing the fist around from behind them in a circular motion. Even though it is called a boxer's fracture, it doesn't usually happen to boxers because they're trained to punch properly. It also can happen from a blow to the hand (for example, in a car accident).

When can my child go back to sports? If the hand is healing well, your child might be able to go back to sports within a few weeks if they wear protective gear for the hand. Your orthopedic specialist will help you decide when it's safe for your child to go back to sports.