Broken fingertip
A fracture of the end of the finger joint, i.e. the joint at the tip of the finger, is most often caused by violent impact, such as falling, getting stuck in the car door or an object falling on the joint. Whether one is affected can be determined with relative certainty if a malposition of the joint is present and pain occurs, which after about 5-15 minutes culminates in a bruise with discoloration of the fingertip. However, a physician can only achieve clarity through an imaging procedure, which is usually an x-ray.
Cooling the finger, making a splint, positioning the hand high up and a general protection of the hand are a good first aid. As with almost all fractures, it is important to consult a competent physician in good time and, in addition, to take the aforementioned early treatment measures yourself. The vast majority of finger fractures can be treated without surgery, and for those to which this does not apply, surgery can often provide relief. Nevertheless, in individual cases, the extent of movement may remain limited and cannot be completely restored. One can expect up to 20° restriction if there are complicated fractures, poor initial treatment and an advanced age of the patient.
Fingertip cut
If you repeatedly and carefully study the anatomy of the finger, you will quickly discover that corresponding ligaments, tendons, joints and vessels can be injured if you cut your finger or even plane off the fingertip completely. A precise statement as to what has been anatomically injured and what can still be saved cannot be given here, because this must be assessed in each individual case. However, one can give hope with a quick visit to a doctor and good first aid.
The first thing to do is to try to stop the bleeding as far as possible by applying a pressure bandage. The best way to do this is to use a sterile compress, which can be found in a first-aid kit in almost every company and household. If the wound is deep, do not hesitate to consult a doctor who will sew up the wound in the case of less serious injuries, which in most cases will allow it to heal completely. If you have planed off your entire fingertip, you should also first take care to stop the bleeding and take the part of the fingertip that was planed off with you when you go to the emergency room.
