Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesWhen to Seek HelpDiagnosisTreatmentOutlookPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
When to Seek Help
Diagnosis
Treatment
Outlook
Prevention
Signs of a broken finger may include pain, bruising, swelling, and/or the inability to move the finger. If you think you have a broken finger, it’s important to get it checked out. While most finger fractures have simple treatments, others may require surgical intervention.
Our fingers are capable of very fine, coordinated motions, and disruption of this motion can have a big impact on very normal activities such as eating, typing, or tying your shoes. Because of the importance of our fingers, all fractures should be appropriately diagnosed so the best treatment plan can be initiated.
This article will present an overview of the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of finger fractures.
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Symptoms of a Broken Finger
Signs and symptoms of a broken finger include:
Other problems of the fingers can have similar symptoms, including infections,dislocation, and tendoninjuries. Therefore, it is important that you have an injury evaluated if you are unsure of the diagnosis.
There are many situations where fractures are best treated early after the injury, before any healing or scar tissue has developed.
Causes of a Broken Finger
Most finger fractures occur as a result of an injury. Common situations that can result in a finger fracture include:
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
If an injury is treated as a sprain, when in actuality it is a fracture that requires specific treatment, a delayed diagnosis can lead to a worse long-term outcome. Often, this means limited mobility or chronic deformity of a finger.
Diagnosing a Broken Finger
If you have symptoms of a broken finger, your healthcare provider will examine the finger and obtain a medical history. During the examination, your healthcare provider will see if there is:
The choice of treatment of finger fractures depends on three primary factors:First,if the fracture involves one of the joints of the fingerSecond,if the fracture is “stable” or “unstable"Third,if there is a deformity of the finger
The choice of treatment of finger fractures depends on three primary factors:
Your healthcare provider will alsoobtain an X-rayto determine if there is a fracture. Not all fractures show up well on a single X-ray, so it may be necessary to obtain multiple X-rays in different orientations if the diagnosis is unclear.
This type of imaging will help your healthcare provider determine if the fracture:
If the joint surfaces do not line up well, if the fracture is unstable, or if there is a deformity that needs correction, surgery may be necessary to allow for optimal function after healing of the injury.
Treating a Broken Finger
If no treatment is needed, a small splint or cast may be placed to protect the injured finger. In some cases, the finger next to the injured finger can be used as a splint; in this scenario, the two fingers are"buddy taped”.A splint on a fractured finger is typically worn for about three weeks.
When the broken finger is out of position, thedeformity may need to be corrected, or “reduced.“Often this can be done underlocal anesthesia. In this case, an injection is given into the small nerves at the base of the finger. The injection anesthetizes the finger and allows your healthcare provider to manipulate the fracture and correct the deformity.
Can a fractured finger heal without a cast?While it’s possible for a finger fracture (particularly a minor one) to heal without a cast, it’s always best to seek care. Without proper treatment, a broken finger may end up misaligned, painful, or stiff.
Can a fractured finger heal without a cast?
While it’s possible for a finger fracture (particularly a minor one) to heal without a cast, it’s always best to seek care. Without proper treatment, a broken finger may end up misaligned, painful, or stiff.
When Is Surgery Needed?
Surgery may be necessary to treat a finger fracture if:
Pins, plates, and screws can all be used to hold the fracture in the proper position. Finger fractures can be difficult to manage with surgery, as stiffness can be a common result after surgical intervention.
In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend nonsurgical treatment even in some situations where the bone is not aligned perfectly. The reason is that stiffness can be a worse outcome than a subtle malalignment of the digit.
Outlook for a Broken Finger
Finger fractures generally heal well after appropriate treatment. However, the outcome largely depends on the type and severity of the finger fracture, as well as the kind of treatment required.
Simple fractures can be easily treated and result in excellent recovery. More severe or complex cases may result in stiff and poorly functioning fingers—even with optimal treatments.
Preventing a Broken Finger
Most finger fractures happen from accidents that cannot be prevented. However, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of a fracture due to weakened bones. They include:
Summary
Fractures are a common cause of pain and deformity of the fingers. Prompt and appropriate treatment of a fractured finger can help to ensure that people recover from these injuries with good function and mobility of their digits.
While surgery is often necessary, the key to successful treatment seems to be getting back to moving the fingers to maintain function as soon as possible after the injury.
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7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.OrthoInfo.Finger fracture.Borchers JR & Best TM.Common finger fractures and dislocations.American Family Physician. 2012 Apr 15;85(8):805-10.Haase SC, Chung KC.Current concepts in treatment of fracture-dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014;134(6):1246-57. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000000854.Won SH, Lee S, Chung CY, et al.Buddy taping: is it a safe method for treatment of finger and toe injuries?.Clin Orthop Surg. 2014;6(1):26-31. doi:10.4055/cios.2014.6.1.26.Cheung K, Hatchell A, Thoma A.Approach to traumatic hand injuries for primary care physicians.Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(6):614-8.Boyer JS, London DA, Stepan JG, Goldfarb CA.Pediatric proximal phalanx fractures: outcomes and complications after the surgical treatment of displaced fractures.J Pediatr Orthop. 2015;35(3):219-23. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000253.OrthoInfo.Fractures (broken bones).Additional ReadingCheah AE, Yao J. “Hand Fractures: Indications, the Tried and True and New Innovations” J Hand Surg Am. 2016 Jun;41(6):712-22.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.OrthoInfo.Finger fracture.Borchers JR & Best TM.Common finger fractures and dislocations.American Family Physician. 2012 Apr 15;85(8):805-10.Haase SC, Chung KC.Current concepts in treatment of fracture-dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014;134(6):1246-57. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000000854.Won SH, Lee S, Chung CY, et al.Buddy taping: is it a safe method for treatment of finger and toe injuries?.Clin Orthop Surg. 2014;6(1):26-31. doi:10.4055/cios.2014.6.1.26.Cheung K, Hatchell A, Thoma A.Approach to traumatic hand injuries for primary care physicians.Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(6):614-8.Boyer JS, London DA, Stepan JG, Goldfarb CA.Pediatric proximal phalanx fractures: outcomes and complications after the surgical treatment of displaced fractures.J Pediatr Orthop. 2015;35(3):219-23. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000253.OrthoInfo.Fractures (broken bones).Additional ReadingCheah AE, Yao J. “Hand Fractures: Indications, the Tried and True and New Innovations” J Hand Surg Am. 2016 Jun;41(6):712-22.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
OrthoInfo.Finger fracture.Borchers JR & Best TM.Common finger fractures and dislocations.American Family Physician. 2012 Apr 15;85(8):805-10.Haase SC, Chung KC.Current concepts in treatment of fracture-dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014;134(6):1246-57. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000000854.Won SH, Lee S, Chung CY, et al.Buddy taping: is it a safe method for treatment of finger and toe injuries?.Clin Orthop Surg. 2014;6(1):26-31. doi:10.4055/cios.2014.6.1.26.Cheung K, Hatchell A, Thoma A.Approach to traumatic hand injuries for primary care physicians.Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(6):614-8.Boyer JS, London DA, Stepan JG, Goldfarb CA.Pediatric proximal phalanx fractures: outcomes and complications after the surgical treatment of displaced fractures.J Pediatr Orthop. 2015;35(3):219-23. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000253.OrthoInfo.Fractures (broken bones).
OrthoInfo.Finger fracture.
Borchers JR & Best TM.Common finger fractures and dislocations.American Family Physician. 2012 Apr 15;85(8):805-10.
Haase SC, Chung KC.Current concepts in treatment of fracture-dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014;134(6):1246-57. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000000854.
Won SH, Lee S, Chung CY, et al.Buddy taping: is it a safe method for treatment of finger and toe injuries?.Clin Orthop Surg. 2014;6(1):26-31. doi:10.4055/cios.2014.6.1.26.
Cheung K, Hatchell A, Thoma A.Approach to traumatic hand injuries for primary care physicians.Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(6):614-8.
Boyer JS, London DA, Stepan JG, Goldfarb CA.Pediatric proximal phalanx fractures: outcomes and complications after the surgical treatment of displaced fractures.J Pediatr Orthop. 2015;35(3):219-23. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000253.
OrthoInfo.Fractures (broken bones).
Cheah AE, Yao J. “Hand Fractures: Indications, the Tried and True and New Innovations” J Hand Surg Am. 2016 Jun;41(6):712-22.
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