Introduction
A finger fracture is a break in any of the finger bones.
What are the causes?
The main cause of finger fractures is injury, such as from sports, a fall, or closing a drawer or door.
What increases the risk?
The following factors raise your risk for a finger fracture:
Sports.
Workplace activities that involve machinery.
A condition called osteoporosis, which can make your bones less dense and cause them to fracture more easily.
What are the signs or symptoms?
The main symptoms of a fractured finger are pain, bruising, and swelling shortly after the injury. Other symptoms include:
Stiffness.
Exposed bones (compound fracture or open fracture), in severe cases.
How is this diagnosed?
This condition is diagnosed based on a physical exam, your medical history, and your symptoms. An X-ray will also be done. …show more content…
Treatment for this condition depends on the severity of the fracture. If the bones are still in place, the finger may be splinted to keep the finger still while it heals (immobilization). If the bones are out of place, your health care provider may move them back into place by hand (manually) or surgically.
You may also need to do exercises to regain strength and flexibility (physical therapy) in your finger.
Follow these instructions at home:
If you have a splint:
Wear the splint as told by your health care provider. Remove it only as told by your health care provider.
Do not put pressure on any part of the splint until it is fully hardened. This may take several hours.
Loosen the splint if your fingers tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue.
Keep the splint clean.
If the splint is not waterproof:
Do not let it get wet.
Cover it with a watertight covering when you take a bath or a shower.
Ask your health care provider when it is safe for you to drive.
Managing pain, stiffness, and
A finger fracture is a break in any of the finger bones.
What are the causes?
The main cause of finger fractures is injury, such as from sports, a fall, or closing a drawer or door.
What increases the risk?
The following factors raise your risk for a finger fracture:
Sports.
Workplace activities that involve machinery.
A condition called osteoporosis, which can make your bones less dense and cause them to fracture more easily.
What are the signs or symptoms?
The main symptoms of a fractured finger are pain, bruising, and swelling shortly after the injury. Other symptoms include:
Stiffness.
Exposed bones (compound fracture or open fracture), in severe cases.
How is this diagnosed?
This condition is diagnosed based on a physical exam, your medical history, and your symptoms. An X-ray will also be done. …show more content…
Treatment for this condition depends on the severity of the fracture. If the bones are still in place, the finger may be splinted to keep the finger still while it heals (immobilization). If the bones are out of place, your health care provider may move them back into place by hand (manually) or surgically.
You may also need to do exercises to regain strength and flexibility (physical therapy) in your finger.
Follow these instructions at home:
If you have a splint:
Wear the splint as told by your health care provider. Remove it only as told by your health care provider.
Do not put pressure on any part of the splint until it is fully hardened. This may take several hours.
Loosen the splint if your fingers tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue.
Keep the splint clean.
If the splint is not waterproof:
Do not let it get wet.
Cover it with a watertight covering when you take a bath or a shower.
Ask your health care provider when it is safe for you to drive.
Managing pain, stiffness, and