A boxer's fracture is a break in the metacarpal bone, just beneath the knuckle, at what is called the neck of the bone. It most commonly affects the ring or even the pinky finger. A person can obtain a boxer's fracture when they make a fist and punch an extremely hard object, like someone's head. As this is a common practice for barehanded or poorly trained boxers, they often suffer from this sort of fracture.

Boxer's fracture commonly angulated 20-45 degrees usually occurring in both a fight or hitting a tough surface, such as a wall with one's hand.A Boxer's fracture can cause your little finger and knuckle area to feel painful. Your pain may increase with movement. The hand may swell and bruise. The normal contour from the "knuckle" may deform or seem to disappear. This occurs when the fracture bends the bone, and also the metacarpal head is no longer prominent. A Boxer's fracture could make your little finger feel stiff. It might not move correctly. Your little finger may overlap your ring finger when you bend it because of malrotation. Your grip may be weaker and less coordinated than before.

A Boxer's fracture occurs once the bone at the knuckle of the little finger breaks. It migh result from a forceful injury during fist fighting or hitting a good object, such as a wall. A Boxer's fracture causes swelling, pain, and stiffness. Treatment involves realigning the broken bone, at the appropriate interval, and providing stabilization although it heals.

Your doctor can diagnose a Boxer's fracture by examining your hand and taking x-rays of the hand. X-rays can show the kind of fracture and any dislocation. In rare cases, a computed tomography (CT) scan may be used to provide a more detailed image.

Research done over 30 years ago demonstrated that reducing a boxer's fracture surgically does not give as good an effect as just splinting the fracture, so long as it does not exceed an acceptable degree of flexion deformity, with that splint maintained for approximately 3 weeks. Then early function is attempted, and early movement encouraged. This noninvasive technique and treatment has given excellent results with not many complaints, very little stiffness issues whereas the surgical approach had much less desirable results, though surgery might be considered for an exceptional case.