Fracture Left 3rd Metacarpal

08 February 2007

My biggest headlines for the month of February 2007 would definitely be my hand injury sustained on 8 February 2007. For more information, please continue reading...

Broke 3rd & Fracture 2nd metacarpal bone (8.2.07)
I was having my Advanced Close Combat Training (ACCT) Grading on 8.2.07 3.30pm. After assessing the Techniques, I was paired up with Ken for the Fighting Combat Assessment. The fighting was intense. During the fight, my right hand lost grip of the blue pogo stick I was holding. Without knowing my situation, Ken continue fighting, causing my left hand to lose grip too. As I am not holding on to the pogo stick, Ken's 3rd blow hit directly on the back of my left palm. I tried lifting up the pogo stick again but I couldn't move my left wrist and 5 fingers... Thus the referee stopped the fighting and called for the medic (Hakim)...

My left palm is completely numb. I have no feelings when Hakim applied ice or pinched it. I tried moving my fingers, which only my little fingers could move slightly. Hakim bandaged my left arm to minimise movements and another medic Ken sent me to medic Yusof at the medical centre. Dr Yeo assessed my condition shortly. Dr Yeo noticed that my left wrist dorsum was swollen at the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal areas; with limited movement and decreased sensitivity of my fingers and wrist due to numbness at thumb, index and middle fingers. Suspecting it to be a metacarpal bony injury, Dr Yeo decided to send me to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) for an X-ray...

As we need to be barefoot for the grading, I am very thankful to Cheng Yi, my secondary school friend, BMT company mate and current camp mate, who helped me to take my sandals. 3SG Kenneth also helped me take my hp. After waiting for a while, the ambulance was ready and I was accompanied by one of the medic to TTSH. As it was peak hour and CTE was very congested, the ambulance ride was very long and with the numbness fading, I start to feel sharp pain at my left palm.

Treatment at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department
Upon reaching the Emergency Department, I was attended at the triage shortly. The nurse asked me if I would like to have a painkiller jab, which she said would be painful. Thinking that the pain might get worse, I decided to take the painkiller jab. After the jab, I feel relieved, especially when the radiographer moved my injured hands to take several X-ray of the left arm. I am thankful that the radiographer Avila Villaruz was gentle and kind enough to minimize any pain while adjusting my hand.

I was attended by Dr Rafael Saclolo Pulido, who is very patient by listening to the whole process leading to the injury. After examining the X-ray, he told me that my 3rd metacarpal was broken and my 2nd metacarpal was fractured. He requested the radiographer for a more detailed X-ray of the palm. After confirming the injury, Dr Rafael told me that my left hand have to be cast with plaster of paris for 6 weeks from the elbow to the fingers. Dr Rafael instructed me on the position that my left palm and fingers had to be maintained (alike to holding a cup). Dr Rafael stressed that this positioning is important and asked me to bear with the pain, because this process will affect the healing process and future function of the hand and fingers. With the help of a patient nurse, the cast was done. I was given 10 days Out Patient Sick Leave. After getting all the reports and medicine, we took the ambulance back to Mandai Hill Camp...

Upon reaching Mandai Hill Camp, I had to report to almost everyone on my injury. When I reached my bunk, I was very thankful to friends who helped me to pack my stuff... I return the next morning to report to Dr Yeo on my injury and to endorse my MC. Dr Yeo downgraded me to C9 temporarily (actual process will only be carried out after I returned from my MC)...

Updates on daily routine
It is a blessing that I am dexterous. Normal routine is more or less affected, but after a few days, I'm adapted to it... The most troublesome thing to do is bathing, which was something I enjoyed very much before the injury...

My fingers get to move little by little over the days and with some effort, I can now manage to spread open all 5 fingers, but with some pain. However a crack sound and a sharp pain can be felt from my middle finger after closing it back... As my 3rd finger is slanted towards the 4th finger (which was reflected in the X-ray), I am worried it might remain crocked even after it recovered... I am also worried that my fingers are not as agile and flexible as before and I am unable to play musical instruments again...

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