Ask the Hand Doctor:
How Can I Tell If a Finger Is Broken?
The kids are going back to school – which means hectic schedules. Clarkston area families face a whirlwind of juggling parents’ careers with kids homework, extracurricular activities, and sports practices, often leaving parents feeling stretched thin as they navigate the demands of a busy household.
And with student sports, comes the added issue of bumps, bruises and athletic injuries. Broken fingers are one of the most common injuries that hand doctors see in middle and high school athletes, cheerleaders, skateboarders, and dancers. Any sharp blow to the finger – a pop fly ball, a basketball finger jam, or falling and landing on the hand incorrectly – can cause a finger fracture.
But, as a parent, how do you know when your child’s finger is merely bruised, possibly sprained, or actually broken? Obviously a broken finger requires immediate medical attention! But if it’s just a bruise or a sprain you may be able to save yourself a trip to the busy emergency clinic. In this article, Clarkston, MI area hand doctor Uzma Rehman gives some tips on determining if a finger is broken – and when to seek immediate medical care.
What Are the Signs of a Broken Finger?
The hand is comprised of many bones, and each finger in the hand is made up of three small bones called phalanges. Though durable, these bones are very small, so damage can often occur to any one of these bones.
Typical symptoms of a broken finger are immediate pain with swelling and bruising. It will be difficult to move the finger, and the finger may appear deformed if the joint is dislocated or the bone is displaced. Numbness and tingling may also be present if nerve damage has occurred.
In some cases if the finger bone is severely broken, the bone is visible through the skin. Obviously a trip to the Emergency Room is required immediately in this situation.
Unfortunately, broken fingers can be difficult for the lay person to differentiate from a serious sprain or strain, especially in children. An X-Ray is the best diagnostic tool to determine whether a break has occurred. Remember, serious problems with infections or bones that heal out of alignment can occur with any finger break if it is not treated immediately.
Determining if a child or teen has a broken finger can be challenging, especially for parents. While some signs are obvious, like severe pain, swelling, or a visible deformity, others can be more subtle.
How to tell if a Child’s Finger is Broken
If your child or teen is complaining about finger discomfort, look for these common indicators of a broken finger:
Pain: Intense pain, especially when the finger is touched or moved.
Swelling: Noticeable swelling around the injured finger.
Bruising: Discoloration may appear a few hours after the injury.
Deformity: The finger might look crooked or misshapen.
Difficulty moving: If the child can’t move the finger freely or experiences pain when trying, it could be broken.
Numbness or tingling: These sensations might indicate a more severe injury.
If you suspect a broken finger, it’s essential to seek medical attention. X-rays can confirm the diagnosis and determine the best course of treatment. If the injury occurs during business hours, seeing a specialized hand doctor for diagnosis and treatment is the best course of action to ensure rapid recovery without long-term damage or side-effects.
While an emergency clinic, a general practitioner / internist, or pediatrician can assess minor finger injuries, it’s advisable to consult a hand specialist for a broken finger, especially in children and teens. Hand specialists have specialized training and expertise in hand anatomy, physiology, and treatment options. They can accurately diagnose the type of fracture, develop a tailored treatment plan, and perform necessary procedures, such as splinting or surgery, with precision.
This specialized care can lead to better outcomes, faster healing, and a reduced risk of long-term complications from a broken finger in children or teens.
How Do Hand Doctors Treat Broken Fingers?
Once diagnosed, treatment usually consists of realigning the bones and splinting or casting to immobilize the area for several weeks for the bones to knit back together. If the break is in multiple locations, or very severe, surgery may be required.
Initially the hand doctor may also recommend keeping the hand elevated above the heart to reduce swelling, as well as icing the area for 20 minutes 3 to 4 times a day until the pain is gone. Depending on the age of the individual with the broken finger, over the counter or prescription anti-inflammatory medications may also be prescribed to reduce swelling and pain.
Once the cast or splint is removed and the phalange (broken finger bone) has healed, stiffness and immobility may be present. Our specially-trained Occupational Therapists (Hand Therapists), will create a treatment program including exercises, stretching and other modalities to assist in regaining full range of motion and strength in the hand.
Faithful performance of the physical therapy exercises, using the proper alignment, will result in the fastest outcome and ensure that the patient regains full use of their hand after having a broken finger or fingers.
Best Clarkston Area Hand Doctor
Remember, we rely on our hands for everything we do! Injuries to the fingers that aren’t treated properly by a hand doctor can have long-term effects, including permanent disfigurement and immobility and even loss of use of the finger(s). However, most broken fingers heal well when treated by a specialized hand doctor like Dr. Rehman, who understands the complexities involved in repairing damage to the hand. When treated promptly by a hand specialist, most children recover completely from a broken injury with no long term effects.
If you think you or your child may have a broken finger or other injury or problem of the fingers, hand, arm, wrist or elbow, contact board certified hand specialist Doctor Rehman. As with most medical conditions, early detection, awareness, and a prevention or treatment plan is the most effective way to combat the effects of conditions like a broken finger.
Doctor Rehman will assess your individual situation, and prescribe the treatments that are best for your condition.
