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Patient education: Finger fracture (The Basics)

Patient education: Finger fracture (The Basics)

What is a finger fracture? — A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone. A finger fracture is when a person breaks a finger bone (figure 1).

There are different types of fractures. The type of fracture depends on how the bone breaks and whether the broken bone sticks out of the skin or not.

What are the symptoms of a finger fracture? — Symptoms of a finger fracture include:

Pain

Swelling

Bruising

Stiffness

Weakness of the hand

A finger fracture can also leave the finger bent in an abnormal position.

Will I need tests? — Yes. Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms, do an exam, and do an X-ray.

Is there anything I can do on my own to reduce swelling? — Yes. For the first 1 to 2 days after your injury, you can:

Try to keep your finger raised above the level of your heart

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. 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.

How are finger fractures treated? — Treatment depends on the type of finger fracture you have and how severe it is.

If you have a lot of pain or a severe fracture, your doctor will prescribe a strong pain medicine. If your fracture 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 names: Aleve, Naprosyn).

Finger fractures are usually treated with a splint, "buddy taping," or both. Buddy taping involves taping your injured finger to the finger next to it (picture 1). Before your doctor puts on a splint, they will make sure that your finger bones are in the correct position. If your bones are not in the correct position, they might need to do a procedure to put your bones in the correct position.

Severe fractures or fractures that involve the bone sticking out of the skin are usually treated by a specialist called a hand surgeon. Treatment for these types of fractures usually involves surgery. Your doctor might also prescribe an antibiotic medicine to prevent an infection if your bone is sticking out of your skin.

After your splint comes off, your doctor might recommend that you work with a physical therapist (exercise expert). They can show you exercises and stretches to strengthen your finger muscles and keep your fingers from getting stiff.

How long do finger fractures take to heal? — Fractures can take weeks to months to heal, depending on the type of fracture.

Healing time 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.

Can I do anything to improve the healing process? — Yes. It's important to follow all of your doctor's instructions while your fracture is healing. They will probably recommend that you eat a healthy diet that includes getting enough calcium, vitamin D, and protein (figure 2). They will also probably recommend that you avoid doing certain things or activities. For example, they might recommend that you:

Avoid smoking. A fracture can take longer to heal if you smoke.

Avoid damaging your cast or getting it wet, if you have a cast that shouldn't get wet

When should I call my doctor or nurse? — Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to call them. In general, you should 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 damage your cast or get it wet, and it's not supposed to get wet

More on this topic

Patient education: Fractures (The Basics)
Patient education: Common finger injuries (The Basics)
Patient education: Finger dislocation (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for your child's cast (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child over-the-counter medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (The Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking (The Basics)

Patient education: Quitting smoking (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Jan 01, 2023.
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