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A broken finger occurs when one of the bones in the finger fractures. The thumb has two bone segments, while the other fingers have three. A broken finger is a common injury that can happen from a fall during sports, having your hand trapped in a car door, or other accidents. To treat a broken finger properly, first, assess the severity of the injury, then provide first aid before heading to the nearest hospital.
Steps
Assess the severity of the injury
Check for bruising or swelling on the finger. Swelling or bruising occurs when small blood vessels in the finger rupture. If the bone in the finger is broken, you may notice dark purple blood clots beneath the nail, and the finger may appear bruised.
- You will also experience intense pain when touching the finger. This is a sign of a broken finger. Some individuals might still be able to move the finger despite it being broken, only feeling numbness or mild pain. However, this could be an indication of a fracture or break in the finger, and immediate medical attention is required.
- Check if the finger has lost feeling or its ability to circulate blood properly to the capillaries. Capillary refill is the process of pushing blood back into the finger under pressure.
Check if the finger has an open wound or protruding bone. You might notice a large open wound or part of the bone exposed when the skin tears and forces the bone to stick out. These signs indicate a more severe injury. If this happens, seek medical attention immediately.
- Also, if there's heavy bleeding from the open wound, you should see a doctor right away.
Check for deformity in the finger. If part of the finger is pointing in an unusual direction, the bone is likely broken or dislocated. A dislocated finger happens when the bone moves out of its original position, commonly affecting joints like the finger joints. See a doctor if you experience a dislocation.
- Each finger has three bones, arranged in a specific order. The first bone is called the proximal phalanx, the second is the middle phalanx, and the third is the distal phalanx. Since the thumb is the shortest, it lacks the middle phalanx. Fingers are typically broken at the phalanx bones or their joints.
- Fractures of the distal phalanx are usually easier to treat than fractures at the joints or other phalanges.
Note if the pain and swelling decrease after a few hours. If the finger isn't deformed and the pain and swelling subside, you may have only sprained it. A sprain occurs when the ligaments (the tissue that connects the bones at the joints) are overstretched.
- If it's a sprain, avoid moving the finger. It should improve within 1 to 2 days. If there's no improvement, seek medical treatment to ensure the injury is just a sprain or if it may be something more severe. An X-ray will provide a clear diagnosis.
First aid on the way to the doctor
Apply ice. Wrap ice in a cloth and apply it to the injured finger while heading to the clinic. This helps reduce bruising and swelling. Avoid placing ice directly on the wound.
- Keep the finger elevated above the heart to help reduce swelling and prevent blood loss.
Splint the wound. A splint will help keep the finger bone from shifting. To splint the injury, follow these steps:
- Use a thin, long object, such as a pen or a popsicle stick, that is about the same length as the broken finger.
- Place the splint along the injured finger and have a friend or family member hold it in place.
- Use gauze to secure the pen or stick to the finger. Tie it gently, but don't tighten it too much, as this could cause swelling and hinder blood circulation in the injured finger.
Remove rings or bracelets. If possible, try to take off any rings before the finger swells. It will be much harder to remove them once the finger has swollen and become painful.
Receive medical treatment
Get checked by a doctor. The doctor will need to know your medical history and perform an examination to gather more information and determine the cause of the injury. They will check for deformities, the integrity of the nerves in the finger, as well as any damage to the skin or tissues around the injury.
Take an X-ray of the finger. This will allow the doctor to determine whether the finger bone is broken. There are two common types of fractures: simple and complex. Each type requires different treatment methods.
- A simple fracture is when the bone cracks or breaks internally without breaking the skin.
- A complex fracture occurs when the bone protrudes through the skin.
Have the doctor bandage the finger if it is a simple fracture. A simple fracture is quite stable and does not involve open wounds or cuts. The symptoms will not worsen and the ability to move the finger will not be significantly affected in the future.
- In some cases, the doctor may bind the injured finger to an adjacent finger, which acts as a splint. This splint helps keep the finger in the proper position for healing.
- The doctor may also reposition the bone to its original location through a process known as reduction. A local anesthetic will be applied to numb the area for the doctor to adjust the bone position.
Consult with a professional about pain-relieving medication. You may take medications to reduce pain and swelling, but it is advisable to seek expert advice on which medications to take and the proper dosage.
- The doctor may also prescribe painkillers based on the severity of your injury.
- If you have an open wound on your finger, you will need antibiotics and a tetanus shot to protect you from bacterial infections that may arise from the injury.
Consider surgery if the injury is severe. If the bone fracture is very serious, surgery may be required to stabilize the broken fragments.
- The doctor might recommend an open surgery, where they make a small incision on your finger to access and realign the broken bone. In some cases, they may use a small wire, splint, or screws to hold the bone in place as it heals.
- These devices will be removed once the finger has fully healed.
Get a referral to an orthopedic surgeon or hand surgeon. If the fracture is severe, the wound is complex, or there is vascular damage, the doctor will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon (specialized in bones and joints) or a hand surgeon.
- These specialists will evaluate the injury and decide whether surgery is necessary.
Wound care
Keep the cast elevated, clean, and dry. This will prevent external factors from affecting the injury, especially if you have an open wound or cut on your hand. Keeping your finger elevated helps maintain its position and promotes easier recovery.
Avoid using the injured finger or hand until your follow-up appointment. Use your uninjured hand for personal tasks such as eating, bathing, and holding objects. It's essential to avoid using or disturbing the bandaged area to allow your finger to heal.
- Your follow-up appointment with the doctor or hand specialist should be scheduled one week after treatment begins. During this appointment, the doctor will check if the bone fragments are still in the correct position and healing properly.
- Most fractures require up to 6 weeks of rest before you can resume normal physical activities or work.
Start moving your finger once the cast is removed. As soon as the doctor confirms your finger has healed enough to remove the cast, begin moving it. Keeping the cast on too long or limiting movement after it’s removed can cause stiffness in the joints, making it harder to regain full flexibility in your finger.
See a physical therapist if the injury is severe. A physical therapist will advise you on how to move your finger properly. They may also provide exercises that you can do to maintain finger mobility and restore flexibility.
