How Hand Doctors Diagnose & Treat Dislocated Fingers
A dislocated finger is a painful injury where the bones of the finger are forced out of normal alignment by an impact or trauma. Dislocated fingers are a fairly common sports injury, but can also be caused by any overly aggressive act of reaching, grabbing, pulling, or pushing in day to day activities.
In most cases, you will immediately know if your finger has been dislocated – since you will be able to see that the finger is out of alignment with the rest. The pain will also typically be quite severe. Do NOT try to fix a dislocated yourself, or have someone move, push or “pop” it back into place. Dislocated fingers require immediate medical care. See a hand doctor immediately, or go to an emergency room. Do not delay.
If you suspect your finger is dislocated, the only thing you should do is immobilize the finger, put an ice pack on it to limit swelling, and head to the hand doctor or ER as soon as possible.
You have a maximum of 5 to 6 hours to get a dislocated finger treated by a hand doctor or qualified health care professional. If not treated within this time period, recovery and rehabilitation can be difficult – even leading to permanent long term damage.
Signs and Symptoms of a Dislocated Finger
A dislocated finger presents with several distinctive signs that patients should recognize to seek timely treatment. The most obvious visual indicator is an abnormal appearance of the finger joint, typically characterized by obvious deformity where the finger appears bent at an unnatural angle or seems obviously out of alignment. This visual deformity often appears more dramatic than a simple fracture and may cause significant distress to patients experiencing this injury for the first time.
Pain represents another hallmark symptom, typically described as immediate and severe following the injury. The intensity frequently surpasses that of sprains or minor injuries, with patients reporting sharp, throbbing pain localized to the affected joint. Movement significantly exacerbates this pain, leading most patients to hold the affected finger immobile or support it with their opposite hand to minimize discomfort.
Swelling and bruising develop rapidly after a finger dislocation, sometimes within minutes of the injury. The swelling typically concentrates around the affected joint but may extend throughout the entire finger. As blood vessels are damaged during the dislocation, bruising often appears within hours, spreading along the finger and potentially into the palm or back of the hand depending on the severity and exact location of the dislocation.
Patients in the Clarkston, MI area experiencing these symptoms should seek evaluation from a qualified hand specialist rather than attempting self-diagnosis or treatment. Dr. Rehman’s practice provides comprehensive assessment of potential finger dislocations, utilizing clinical examination and appropriate imaging to confirm the diagnosis and determine the optimal treatment approach for each specific case.
Common Causes of Finger Dislocations
Sports activities account for a significant percentage of finger dislocations, particularly ball-handling sports like basketball, volleyball, and football. These injuries typically occur when a ball strikes the fingertip with force, creating a hyperextension moment that drives the joint out of alignment. The middle (PIP) joint proves especially vulnerable during these sporting activities, with basketball alone responsible for approximately 40% of sports-related finger dislocations according to orthopedic injury databases.
Falls with an outstretched hand represent another common mechanism for finger dislocations, particularly among older adults and children. During falls, instinctive protective reactions often result in the hand absorbing significant impact forces, which may channel through the fingers in ways that exceed normal joint stability. These injuries commonly affect both the middle (PIP) and base (MCP) joints of the fingers.
Workplace injuries contribute substantially to finger dislocation cases, especially in construction, manufacturing, and other industries involving manual labor. Heavy objects falling onto extended fingers, fingers caught between materials, or twisting injuries during tool use can all produce sufficient force to dislocate finger joints. These workplace-related dislocations often involve more complex injury patterns that may include associated fractures or ligament tears.
Dr. Rehman regularly treats patients from the Clarkston, MI area with finger dislocations from diverse causes, recognizing that each injury mechanism may produce different patterns of joint displacement and associated tissue damage. This understanding informs her comprehensive approach to treatment, which addresses not only the immediate dislocation but also any concurrent injuries that may affect long-term function.
Diagnostic Approaches for Finger Dislocations
Clinical examination forms the foundation of finger dislocation diagnosis, with experienced hand specialists identifying characteristic deformities, swelling patterns, and motion limitations. The examination typically involves careful assessment of joint stability in multiple directions, evaluation of tendon function, and neurovascular checks to ensure proper blood flow and nerve function distal to the injury. These physical findings provide crucial information about the severity and complexity of the dislocation.
Radiographic imaging plays an essential role in confirming diagnosis and guiding treatment decisions. Standard X-rays, typically including anteroposterior (AP), lateral, and oblique views, reveal the direction of displacement and identify any associated fractures that might complicate treatment. For complex cases, stress views may be obtained to assess ligament integrity and joint stability after reduction.
Advanced imaging modalities such as MRI or ultrasound may be employed in selected cases to evaluate soft tissue injuries associated with the dislocation. These techniques prove particularly valuable when assessing damage to the volar plate (a thick ligament preventing hyperextension), collateral ligaments, or tendons that may affect long-term stability and function. Accurate identification of these associated injuries significantly influences treatment decisions and rehabilitation protocols.
Patients in the Clarkston, MI area benefit from Dr. Rehman’s expertise in comprehensive diagnostic evaluation of finger dislocations. Her approach combines thorough clinical examination with appropriate imaging to develop a complete understanding of each patient’s specific injury pattern, enabling targeted treatment that addresses both the dislocation itself and any associated tissue damage.
Treatment Options for Dislocated Fingers
Closed reduction represents the initial treatment for most finger dislocations, involving careful manipulation to restore normal joint alignment. This procedure, performed under appropriate anesthesia ranging from local digital blocks to sedation depending on the complexity of the dislocation, requires specific techniques based on the joint involved and direction of displacement. Following successful reduction, hand specialists evaluate joint stability through gentle stress testing to determine what additional treatments may be necessary.
Immobilization follows reduction in most cases, with the specific method and duration determined by joint stability and associated injuries. Simple, stable dislocations might require only buddy-taping to an adjacent finger for 2-3 weeks, while more complex injuries necessitate splinting in a protective position that prevents re-dislocation while allowing for controlled healing of damaged ligaments. The immobilization protocol balances protection of healing tissues with the need to prevent joint stiffness.
Surgical intervention becomes necessary for certain dislocation patterns, particularly those involving significant fractures, irreducible dislocations, or severe ligamentous injuries causing persistent instability. Surgical approaches vary widely based on the specific pathology, potentially including repair of damaged ligaments, fixation of fracture fragments, or reconstruction of joint-stabilizing structures. These procedures aim to restore stability while preserving maximum motion.
Dr. Rehman provides comprehensive dislocation treatment to patients in the Clarkston, MI area, including both non-operative and surgical management based on individual injury patterns. Her approach emphasizes early, appropriate intervention followed by guided rehabilitation to restore function and prevent long-term complications such as chronic instability, stiffness, or post-traumatic arthritis.
Top Clarkston Area Hand Doctor
If you are suffering from an injury or pain in your fingers, wrist, elbow or arm, contact board certified Clarkston area hand doctor, Dr. Rehman for a comprehensive evaluation and consultation. Early detection, awareness, and treatment plan is only way to combat the effects of conditions like a dislocated finger and ensure a full recovery with no long term negative impact.
Doctor Rehman will assess your individual situation, and prescribe the treatments that are best for your condition.
