On March 23, in a spring training game, a line drive fractured San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner’s small finger metacarpal on his pitching hand. He had surgery and is expected to miss four to six weeks. Bumgarner had surgery to realign and pin the fracture.

Metacarpal fractures don’t need surgery to heal, so there must have been substantial malalignment. The screws don’t help the fracture heal quicker, they just hold the bone aligned while it heals. After about a month, a metacarpal fracture doesn’t need any cast or splint support or immobilization. After three months, the bone is ready to take any level of force (about 80 to 90 percent strength). It takes a full year to get to 100 percent bone strength.

The decision to return to work or play is consideration of the risks and rewards. Doctors estimate a return to the mound at about six weeks.

This article was made by Aidan Jacobson and David Ring