What are signs of a finger fracture?
Most finger fractures are caused by a trauma such as a fall onto the hand. Signs of a broken finger include:
- Pain when touching the bone
- Swelling of the finger
- Difficulty moving the finger
- Deformity of the finger
What should be done if I have a finger fracture?
If you have these symptoms, your doctor will likely obtain an X-ray to determine if there is a fracture. Not all fractures show up well on X-rays, so it may be necessary to obtain multiple X-rays in different orientations if the diagnosis is unclear.
How is the treatment of a finger fracture decided?
Treatment of finger fractures depends on three primary factors:
- First, if the fracture involves one of the joints of the finger
- Second, if the fracture is "stable" or "unstable"
- Third, if there is a deformity of the finger
If the fracture involves a joint, it is important to ensure that the joint surfaces line up well. On X-ray, your doctor will examine the joints of the fingers, and make sure there is no irregularity of the joint surface.
Second, it is important to know if the fracture is "stable" or "unstable." To determine the stability of a fracture, your doctor will look at the pattern of the break on X-ray to predict if the fracture will tend to slip out of position over time.
Finally, your doctor will look for deformities of the finger such as shortening and rotation. Your fingers on the injured hand should line up the same way as the fingers on your uninjured hand. This means if you straighten out all your fingers on both hands, they should come to the same length. Also, when you make a fist, your fingers should not cross, they should line up parallel to eachother. Crossing of the fingers is an indication that there may be a rotational deformity caused by the fracture.
If the joint surfaces do not line up well, if the fracture is unstable, or if there is a deformity that needs correction, surgery may be necessary to prevent problems with the injured finger.
What is the treatment of finger fractures?
If no treatment is needed, a small splint may be applied to protect the injured finger. In some cases, the finger next to the injured finger can be used as a splint; in this scenario the two fingers are "buddy taped."
When the broken finger is out of position, the deformity may need to be corrected, or "reduced." Often this can be done under local anesthesia. In this case, an injection is given into the small nerves at the base of the finger. This numbs up the finger and allows your doctor to manipulate the fracture and correct the deformity.
If the fracture has caused joint incongruity, if it is unstable, or if the deformity cannot be corrected, then surgery may be necessary to realign and hold the broken fragments in place. Pins, plates, and screws can all be used to hold the fracture in the proper position.
