June 3, 2020 at 7:00 pm · drsahai · 0 comments
Is My Finger Broken?
How to Tell if Your Finger is Broken
Your fingers allow you to touch, grasp, and experience the world, every day. However, a broken finger is very common. In fact, the fingers are the most commonly injured part of the hand. Therefore, anything from bruises, finger sprains to broken bones is possible. Your knuckles are the joints that form between finger bones. And when trauma occurs, they are easily dislocated.
Broken fingers are painful. And they will not go unnoticed. After trauma, immediate pain will occur. Sometimes, the finger will be deformed too. Even without an obvious deformity, a sharp pain is a telltale sign of a fracture.
Sometimes you do not know if it’s broken and may try bending the finger. It will be painful if broken. However, do not be fooled if the finger still moves. Even with a fracture, some motion can be possible. The severity of the fracture will determine pain and mobility.
For a fracture, you will notice swelling and redness. This occurs within 5 – 10 minutes of the injury. And the more swollen the finger gets, the more stiff and inflexible it will become. Swelling can also spread to nearby fingers.
Severe fractures can also cause bruising and swelling. And if the swelling gets severe, it will cause numbness too. This happens as nerves become compressed by swollen tissues.
Treatment Options For a Broken Finger
The most successful temporary treatments are ice, splinting, and pain management. Make a splint to immobilize the fracture. You can use almost anything to make a temporary splint, such as a pencil or popsicle stick. Then, use tape or cloth to wrap it to your finger and apply ice to the finger. Use a towel or cloth. However, do not apply ice directly to your skin!
After a suspected broken finger, an emergency room is best. The doctor will need to do an x-ray since this is the only way to accurately diagnose a fracture.
If you think you have experienced a broken finger, call us immediately at 888-409-8006. Our top hand/wrist specialist is glad to help! Conveniently located in Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Coral Springs & Plantation.
Tags: broken finger Categories: Finger
