I broke the third metacarpal in my right hand during a motocross accident. The x-ray shows a clear break and the bones are not currently aligned. Is this injury something I can correct without surgery and without a 6-week cast?

There are several factors used to gauge whether a metacarpal fracture can be treated non-operatively, such as shortening and rotation of the bone and angular alignment. Many metacarpal fractures, even if not perfectly aligned on x-ray, can be treated with splint immobilization and gentle early range of motion.  A careful physical examination is at least as important, if not more so, than an x-ray for evaluating the appropriate treatment for a metacarpal fracture.