A finger fracture usually occurs as a result of direct force. With appropriate therapy, a finger fracture can usually be healed.
What is a finger fracture?
In medicine, a finger fracture is when a finger bone is broken in an affected person. Many different bones of the human hand can be affected by a finger fracture. For example, the so-called long fingers of the human hand each have three bones that can have a finger fracture, whereas the thumb has only two bones. Depending on the severity of a finger fracture, the fracture can be accompanied by different symptoms: Usually, a finger fracture is accompanied by severe pain. In addition, an affected finger may show swelling. If the end phalanx of a finger (i.e., the phalanx of the fingertip) is affected by a finger fracture, a bruise can often form as a result, showing up under the affected fingernail.
Causes
Common causes that lead to a finger fracture are external mechanical forces. A finger fracture can also occur as a result of dislocations that occur at the finger joints. For example, a finger fracture often occurs in the form of a sports injury. In ball sports, among other things, there is a risk of suffering a finger fracture due to the impact of the ball. A collision with an opposing player can also result in a finger fracture. In addition, falls that are intercepted with the hand can lead to a finger fracture. This is especially the case if a finger is splayed sideways or backward while falling. A high risk of a finger fracture therefore exists, among other things, in sports in which falls from relatively high speeds must be absorbed; such as downhill skiing, cycling or even equestrian sports.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Finger fracture is usually triggered by an event and does not occur suddenly and unexpectedly. Therefore, the patient is usually very capable of describing the incident. In contrast, it is more difficult to reliably self-diagnose a finger fracture. After an event such as a blow or fall on the hand, the impact of a hard object or on a hard object, a finger fracture may be present. Because there are a lot of fine nerves running in the hand, fingers and especially fingertips are very sensitive to pain and react immediately. However, the pain of a bruise is just as severe as the pain of a fracture, so it is ruled out as a reliable indicator. In order to diagnose the finger fracture unambiguously, it is necessary to wait until the first pain subsides. After that, the ability of the finger to move can be checked. If the hand can be moved normally, there is probably no fracture. If the fingers are moved in the joints, there is usually severe pain at the touch alone if there is a fracture. Fractures between the joints can be recognized by the fact that the bone can be moved back and forth at the fracture site. This is very painful for the patient. In contrast, an open fracture is easy to diagnose; in it, the broken bone pierces the skin and the injury is clearly visible and identifiable.
Diagnosis and course
The suspected diagnosis of finger fracture can first be made based on the typical symptoms that occur with a finger fracture. In a next step, an attending physician usually inquires about the situation that led to a possible finger fracture. The suspected diagnosis of finger fracture can finally be confirmed, for example, with the aid of X-rays. Based on two X-ray images of the affected finger from different perspectives, the course that a finger fracture takes can be shown. If there is a suspicion that neighboring structures (such as tendons) are also injured in a finger fracture, this can be checked using magnetic resonance imaging; tissue structures can be visualized using a corresponding image. The course that a finger fracture takes depends primarily on the severity of the injury. If the finger fracture is uncomplicated, the prognosis is usually good. If a finger fracture is complicated, the healing process may be comparatively delayed. However, after appropriate therapy, an injured finger can usually be used again after approximately three months.
Complications
In most cases, a finger fracture does not result in any further complications.The patient feels very severe pain on the affected finger and can no longer move it. This severely restricts the affected person’s everyday life and is usually associated with pain. Shortly after the finger fracture, most people suffer from dizziness and unconsciousness may occur. If the affected person is unsure whether it was really a fracture, a doctor must still be consulted. Complications occur with complicated fractures, which do not heal easily. A common fracture is wrapped with the help of a plaster cast so that the finger is not moved and can heal quickly. No further discomfort occurs during this process. In the case of severe fractures, the healing process often takes longer. However, even here, a complete healing is in prospect. The finger can be used normally again after the finger fracture when the bone has healed. There are no restrictions or pain. In most cases, it takes about a month for the finger fracture to heal. During this time, the patient is limited.
When should you go to the doctor?
A finger fracture – even if it does not hurt much – is always a reason to see a doctor. For example, it is urgent to determine the nature of the fracture so that the finger can be splinted appropriately. In most cases, a finger fracture can be straightened and splinted with prompt treatment so that it heals well within a few weeks. Since most cases are simple fractures (the bone breaks and the ends move against each other), this is also accompanied by pain, bruising, and impeded movement. However, simply straightening the bone can prevent other structures in the finger from being affected. If this is missed due to lack of medical attention, the finger is at risk of growing together crookedly, resulting in permanent loss of function in the worst case. In addition, there are even more complicated fractures that may require surgical intervention. Especially if the supposed fracture was preceded by a crushing trauma (slammed car door or similar), such a fracture may be present. Initial clues as to the type of fracture and the appropriate treatment can be obtained from radiology. A finger fracture should be assessed accordingly in the emergency room of a hospital. If the affected person is unsure whether it is a fracture, X-rays should still be taken as a precaution.
Treatment and therapy
Appropriate treatment for a sustained finger fracture depends on the type of fracture. Basic sensible first aid measures after a finger fracture are immobilization and cooling of the affected finger to reduce the risk of swelling and bruising (hematoma). If a finger fracture is present in which the ends of the bones are only slightly displaced from each other, a finger fracture can often be treated conservatively (without the use of surgical measures). Such conservative therapy for a finger fracture usually involves straightening the fracture site and subsequent casting, which leads to immobilization of the injured finger. If a surgical intervention is necessary after a finger fracture, this is often carried out by stabilizing the fracture ends with so-called mini-implants. After such an intervention for a finger fracture, long-term plaster treatment is often no longer necessary. Physiotherapy exercises can help restore finger mobility after a finger fracture.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis for a finger fracture is very good, insofar as it is a simple fracture. If the finger is splinted and the affected person takes care of decongestant measures as well as proper positioning of the hand, healing can be expected within a few weeks. Hand therapy can usually completely restore functionality (if severely limited after the fracture). Sometimes bending losses of around ten degrees are the late consequence, but this means hardly any restrictions in practice. In isolated cases, pain on exertion or swelling may still occur after the fracture. However, these are usually harmless and disappear. The adjacent joints and the entire hand should be used and loaded again as usual, especially after the fracture, in order to maintain functionality. Otherwise, stiffening may occur. The earlier movement therapy of the fingers is started, the better the functionality can be restored.Accordingly, it is important that the stiffening of the finger by splints is as short as possible. More complicated fractures can slow down the healing process; more rarely, the functionality of a finger cannot be preserved. In any case, it is crucial that treatment be given as soon as possible after the fracture to prevent further damage to the finger.
Prevention
Because a finger fracture usually happens unexpectedly, it is difficult to prevent a finger fracture. Falls on slippery or uneven ground that can lead to a finger fracture can be prevented, for example, by wearing safe footwear. When participating in risky sports, it can prevent a finger fracture to provide the fingers (as far as possible) with protective clothing. Swelling and bruising after suffering a finger fracture can be prevented by cooling and immobilization.
Aftercare
A fracture of a finger is a medical condition that requires mandatory medical, drug and possibly surgical treatment. Subsequent follow-up care is essential to allow for a full recovery. Usually, a broken finger is splinted so that the broken bone can grow together in peace. This healing process can be associated with various complications under certain circumstances, so regular follow-up examinations should be urgently observed. In this way, possible malpositions can be detected at an early stage and treated accordingly. If the affected person forgoes follow-up examinations, the broken finger may grow together incorrectly or even not at all. The result: malpositions that cannot be properly restored and treated afterwards. If pain or unusual discoloration occurs in the affected area later in the healing process, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. In this way, any complications can be detected and remedied accordingly. For this reason, appropriate aftercare is indispensable and urgently required. Of course, a fracture can occur in different degrees of severity, so that the aftercare can be different accordingly. However, regular visits to the doctor should not be dispensed with if a full and speedy recovery is to be achieved.
What you can do yourself
If possible, if the fingers are broken, they should not be loaded with weights or holding objects. Likewise, carrying, lifting or grasping with the finger should be completely avoided. In order for the bones to grow back together well, they must be spared. This means that they must be completely immobilized for several weeks. It is helpful to rest the hand or wrist as well. The less movement the injured region is exposed to, the better the chances of healing. Sports activities or typing should not be performed. Once the broken finger has been treated by a doctor, some limited activities are usually possible. Great care should be taken with these to avoid delays in the healing process. In most cases, a cast is applied to a broken finger. This treatment measure ensures that the affected finger is not subjected to any unwanted movement. If the hand is swollen, it can be cooled with cold water. To ensure that the hand is adequately supplied with blood and important nutrients via the vessels, it should be kept as horizontal as possible. In a vertical position, there is a risk of insufficient blood supply to the fingers. Numbness may develop and sensory disturbances occur more frequently in these cases.
