Rank: Forum user 
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Yesterday, on one of our sites, we had an operative strike the lower knuckle bone of his thumb at its contact point with the hand / wrist with a hammer, resulting in its fracture. As everyone is aware, under RIDDOR, finger, thumb and toe fractures do not require reporting whereas other fractures do.
The doctor has written 'hand fracture' on the report he prepared for the IP, however I would argue that in this case that this is incorrect - albeit I am not medically qualified to do so!!
So my query I suppose is, is the lower knuckle bone of the thumb technically classed as the thumb or the hand?!
Personally, I would say thumb being that it moves and operates independently outwith that of the hand.
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Rank: Forum user
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However - never usually being one for internet self-diagnosis - I did find this : http://noelhenley.com/280/joints-of-the-thumb/ "The CMC joint of the thumb is located at the junction point of the thumb and the wrist. Break down the words in the name, carpometacarpal, and you get carpo - (wrist) and metacarpal (hand bone)." So it would therefore technically be a HAND fracture then...??
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Rank: Super forum user 
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GP says hand fracture so why argue, she/he is the one qualified to make that diagnosis.
Do you have a problem reporting the injury and potential consequences?
if the chap is injured at work just follow the correct procedures.
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Rank: Forum user
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There is no problem reporting.
I was merely querying if others were of the opinion if it was indeed a hand or a thumb injury.
The highly condescending tone of some of the responses on here is exactly the reason why I very rarely post on this forum.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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When it's a non-opposable digit?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Dalziel wrote:There is no problem reporting.
I was merely querying if others were of the opinion if it was indeed a hand or a thumb injury.
The highly condescending tone of some of the responses on here is exactly the reason why I very rarely post on this forum. If the quack has put a hand then report. I also agree about the 'highly conscending tone' It gets' on my breasts or should i say chest.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Well your hand includes fingers and thumbs in normal everyday conversation, along with many other uniquely identifiable parts.
But this is easy, from Google
The thumb has two bones. The first bone (distal phalange) extends from the tip of the thumb to the knuckle. The second bone (proximal phalange) extends from the knuckle to the base of the thumb. This is the area of webbing between the thumb and the first finger.
If the fracture is not in either of these bones then it is the hand. If the Doctor was not specific ask the IP if they were shown their own x-ray (I would try and look) and if they know it was in one of these bones. Otherwise If I could not identify it specifically as one of these two bones, I would report.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Thats a Distal Phalanges up all round, I say!
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