Finger Fracture
(Broken Finger)
Definition
A finger fracture is a break in any of the bones in a finger.
Finger FractureCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
Symptoms TOP
Symptoms may be:
- Pain
- Swelling and bruising
- Problems moving the finger
- Changes in the way the finger looks
Diagnosis TOP
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You will be asked how the injury happened. A physical exam will be done, focusing on your finger.
Images will be taken of your finger. This can be done with x-rays.
Treatment TOP
How it is treated depends on whether the injury is mild or severe. Options may be:
Initial Care
Initial care may be:
- Ice to ease pain and swelling
- Medicine to ease pain
- A splint, cast, or tape keep the finger in place as it heals
- Exercises to help with strength and motion
Children's bones have growth plates that let bones grow and harden with age. A child with this type of fracture will need to be checked over time to make sure the bone heals the right way and keeps growing.
Putting Bones Back In Place
Some fractures cause pieces of bone to come apart. These pieces will need to be put back into place. This may be done:
- Without surgery—anesthesia will be used to ease pain while the doctor moves the pieces back into place
- With surgery—pins, screws, or a wire may be used to reconnect the pieces and hold them in place
RESOURCES:
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
http://www.sportsmed.org
Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://www.orthoinfo.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://www.canorth.org
REFERENCES:
Finger fractures. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated December 2013. Accessed September 24, 2019.
Middle phalanx finger fracture. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/management/middle-phalanx-finger-fracture-emergency-management. Accessed September 24, 2019.
Oetgen ME, Dodds SD. Non-operative treatment of common finger injuries. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2008 Jun;1(2):97-102.
Last reviewed September 2019 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Warren A. Bodine, DO, CAQSM
Last Updated: 8/21/2020