Which doctor treats a torn capsule on the finger? | Torn capsule on finger

Which doctor treats a torn capsule on the finger?

In general, the doctor who is first on the scene will take care of it: Perhaps a team doctor is already looking after the sports team or you are going to the emergency room where the doctor on duty will look at your finger. However, the specialist in the field of the musculoskeletal system is the orthopaedic surgeon/accident surgeon, who can also help in this case. If necessary, doctors with the additional title of “sports medicine” may also know about this area. If additional structures such as the surrounding ligaments are injured or if there is also a bony problem, the patient is referred to a hand surgeon or a hand surgery center if necessary. These doctors are specialists in the surgical treatment of hand injuries.

Diagnosis of a capsule rupture on the finger

First the attending physician will ask about the injury event. He is interested in the movement during which the capsule rupture occurred and under what circumstances. Then the affected finger must be looked at and clinically examined: In general, the blood circulation, motor function (mobility) and sensitivity (feeling) in the affected area and in the fingertip are tested.

In order to better estimate the swelling and range of motion, the finger is compared with the finger on the opposite side. Is the finger very swollen? To what extent can the finger still be moved?

If the doctor cannot rule out with certainty that the bone is also damaged, an X-ray of the finger will be taken. This would show, for example, a torn out part of the bone. In order to better assess the injury to the capsule and the surrounding ligamentous apparatus, an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) image can also be taken.

This allows ligaments, soft tissue and joint effusion to be assessed particularly well.The X-ray image is not able to show soft tissue such as muscles, tendons, joint capsules and fluids well. An MRI image must be made for these purposes. However, the X-ray image in the diagnosis of capsule tears is taken to exclude bony involvement in the injury.

The tendons of the finger often attach to bony protrusions. If the tendon is pulled or torn severely, bone fragments may be released, which may have to be surgically fixed. The bone fragments are visible on the X-ray image as small brightenings. Do you have a tear of the tendon on your finger?