Boxer’s Fracture

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Anonymous

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Hello, I recently got frustrated over something incidental and punched a book laying on a table. I broke my 5th metacarpal (AKA a Boxer s Fracture). Will the FAA have concerns over me punching something out of frustration and defer me, request more information, or so on? For context, I don’t have any psychiatric problems.

(If you read this Dr. Bruce, your opinion would be much appreciated)
 
The application doesn't ask you such details. "I broke right fifth metacarpal" and your AME will say "You got better, right?" A letter from your ortho saying your healed and there's no restrcition on range of motion, etc... would be golden.
 
Anonymous said:
Hello, I recently got frustrated over something incidental and punched a book laying on a table. I broke my 5th metacarpal (AKA a Boxer s Fracture). Will the FAA have concerns over me punching something out of frustration and defer me, request more information, or so on? For context, I don’t have any psychiatric problems.

(If you read this Dr. Bruce, your opinion would be much appreciated)
Click to expand...
You've no mental issues, but something incidental caused you to act in a way that seriously damaged your hand?
 
Anonymous said:
I recently got frustrated over something
...
I don’t have any psychiatric problems
Click to expand...
While this might not be anything diagnosable (and I absolutely don't have the qualifications for that), you do need to do a bit of honest soul searching and self-assessment.
This kind of behavior is what got an old pilot, frustrated that a young student cut him off in the pattern, to decide buzzing him at high speed in close proximity would teach him a lesson. They all died in the subsequent mid-air collision.
This was also the behavior of the captain enraged that his FO missed a broken light during pre-flight, who berated the FO throughout the flight to the point that the poor kid resigned himself and never challenged him when he made a fatal landing configuration error. Everyone died.

You should really be honest with yourself here. Otherwise, you could be the next NTSB investigation we discuss.
 
Anon: if you can make a tight fist, if you can cock your wrist back and if you fan you fingers apart while I attempt (with mild force only) to put your fingers together (doesn't say ANYTHING about how much it hurts), th ehand works perfectly and I would describe that (as AME) and issue you.

But man, don't be punching walls.....books...."bleeding practice" is totally useless.
 
Unfortunately, he will have to explain to the FAA the restraining order the book has on him...
 
TommyG said:
Why would it even come up?
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The only reason it could be a problem is that it's a common fracture sustained in a fight.You might have to disclose the fracture if it's within the reporting period. The FAA could ask about the circumstances.
If it's just that you "fell on a book with your fist in a closed position," I mean, it's probably ok. We see a lot of these in medicine and don't usually think ill of folks. Still I would offer as little information about the fracture if you have to report it and do as Dr. Chien says during the AME exam.

Unless it's your third boxer's fracture in 3 years, your ex wife has a restraining order on you and you skipped the court mandated classes... Now you have an issue...
 
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