Patient education: Common finger injuries (The Basics)

What are common finger injuries? — 

Common finger injuries include:

●Finger sprain – A sprain is when a ligament tears or gets stretched too much. Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect bones to other bones. Symptoms of a finger sprain can include pain, swelling, stiffness, or weakness. It is sometimes called a "jammed" finger.

●Flexor tendon injury – Tendons are strong bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. In a flexor tendon injury, a tendon on the palm side of the hand is torn or cut. If the cut or tear is near the tip of the finger, it keeps the finger tip from being able to bend. The fingertip stays straight. Doctors sometimes call this injury a "jersey finger" (picture 1).

●Extensor tendon injury – In this injury, a tendon on the back of the hand is torn or cut. If the tear or cut is near the tip of the finger, it causes the tip of the finger to stay bent. The finger cannot straighten. One common type of extensor tendon injury is called "mallet finger" (picture 2). This happens when the finger joint closest to the fingernail gets hurt. Mallet finger also causes pain and swelling on top of the joint.

Another common type of extensor tendon injury is called a "boutonniere deformity." This happens when the tendon tears and slips out of place. It makes the finger joint nearest the tip of the finger stay straight, and the finger joint in the middle of the finger stay bent (figure 1).

●Finger fracture - A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone. It can happen if a finger is hit, twisted, or bent too far.

●Finger dislocation – In this injury, 1 of the bones in a finger joint is pushed or pulled out of position. This usually happens from a sudden injury.

●Nail avulsion – This injury happens when a part of all of a nail is torn off.

●Trigger finger – This condition keeps a finger from straightening normally. When trying to straighten the finger, the finger "locks" or "catches" in a bent position (figure 2). Trigger finger can also cause pain in the finger or palm. It is caused by a problem with a tendon.

Will I need tests? — 

Probably. Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and do an exam. They will probably do an X-ray of your finger or hand. In some cases, they might also do more imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or CT or MRI scan. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.

How are finger injuries treated? — 

Treatment depends on the type of finger injury you have and how severe it is.

If you have a lot of pain or a severe injury, your doctor will prescribe a strong pain medicine. If your injury is mild, your doctor might recommend that you take an over-the-counter medicine for your pain. Over-the-counter medicines include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

Treatments for a finger injury can include 1 or more of the following:

●Rest your hand.

●Keep your hand raised above the level of your heart (when possible).

●Put ice on your finger – To reduce swelling, you can put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the injured area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin. Do not leave the ice on your finger for longer than 15 minutes at a time. Use the ice (or other cold object) for at least 6 hours after your injury. Some people find it helpful to ice longer, even up to 2 days after their injury.

●Wear an elastic bandage (such as an ACE wrap).

●Buddy taping – This means taping your injured finger to the finger next to it. This is done most often to treat finger sprains. It is not done to treat tendon injuries or trigger finger.

●Wear a splint – Splints are usually used to treat tendon injuries and trigger finger. For some of these injuries, such as mallet finger, you need to wear the splint at all times.

●Wear a cast – Casts can be used to treat some serious finger injuries.

●Surgery – Some people need surgery to fix a ligament or tendon. Hand surgery is usually done by a specialist called a hand surgeon.

●Physical therapy – After your injury has healed, your doctor might recommend that you work with a physical therapist (exercise expert). They can teach you exercises to strengthen your fingers and help them move more easily.

How long do finger injuries take to heal? — 

Finger injuries can take weeks to months to heal, depending on the type of injury.

It also depends on the person. Healthy children usually heal very quickly. Older adults or adults with other medical problems can take much longer to heal.

What can I do to help my finger heal? — 

Follow all of your doctor's instructions while your finger injury is healing. For example, you might not be allowed to bend or straighten your finger for a certain amount of time. Your doctor might also recommend that you avoid certain activities.

If you smoke, it can take longer for injuries to heal. If you are having trouble quitting smoking, your doctor or nurse can help.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to call them. In general, call them if:

●You have severe pain, or your pain or swelling gets worse.

●You have numbness or tingling in your fingers, or your fingers look blue or purple.

●You bent or straightened your finger, and you weren't supposed to.

More on this topic

Patient education: Finger fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Finger dislocation (The Basics)
Patient education: Hand pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Tenosynovitis (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your child's cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for a splint (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Sprains (The Basics)

Patient education: Cast and splint care (Beyond the Basics)