FRACTURE OF A FINGER OR OF THE HAND
A broken finger – what does that mean?
A fracture of a finger bone is usually the result of direct force. Such fractures are frequently diagnosed after falls or sporting accidents and can occur in any of the finger bones. Depending on how the accident happened, the bone breaks at its base, along the shaft, at the head or at the tuft beneath the nail; the neighbouring joint can be involved as well.
Symptoms
Typical symptoms of a broken finger are pain, swelling, bruising and restricted or painful movement of the finger – sometimes also a visible deformity.
Swelling with bruising
The finger is swollen and discoloured blue to purple.
Restricted movement
Straightening the finger or closing the hand into a fist is not possible because of the pain.
Deformity
The finger sits crooked or gets in the way of the other fingers when they move.
How is the injury established?
Because of the fracture the finger is swollen, blue and painful. The fracture may be undisplaced. Where the fragments have shifted or rotated, the finger can sit in a deformed position. Sometimes this only becomes apparent during movement. An X-ray shows where the fracture is and how extensive it is. Occasionally a CT or a cone-beam CT is needed as well, to make fine cracks easier to see.
Treatment options for a finger fracture
Whether a fracture is immobilised or operated on is decided above all by the position of the fragments. If the fracture sits well, immobilisation in a cast or a splint is usually enough to stop movement displacing it. If the fragments have shifted or rotated, or if a neighbouring joint is involved, they are reduced and stabilised with wires, screws or a plate.
Treatment options
Non-surgical and surgical – we will find the right approach for you
Immobilisation in a cast or a splint
So that a well-positioned fracture cannot be displaced by movement, the finger or the hand is immobilised.
Reducing and fixing the fracture
A displaced fracture is reduced and stabilised with wires, screws or a plate.
Our hand specialists
Experienced specialists for fractures of the fingers and hand and for hand surgery
