Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionJoint ConditionsWhen to Call Your Healthcare ProviderTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy
Function
Joint Conditions
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
Treatment
Your finger joints sustain an incredible amount of pressure and movement. They’re built to sustain the stress, but only up to a point. As a result, repetitive use injuries and arthritis are common. Finger sprains and accidents also account for many finger joint problems.
Prompt treatment for injuries ensures you regain optimal joint strength and function. Conditions like arthritis require diligent care to slow or stop progressive joint damage.
AaronAmat/Getty Images.
The hand contains 14phalanges—the bones that make up the fingers. (The term “phalanx"is singular, referring to one finger bone.) Each finger contains three and the thumb has two phalanges.
The fingers are commonly referred to as the thumb, index finger, long (or middle) finger, ring finger, and small (or pinkie) finger, although other names are used to describe them.
Joints
Your finger joints are located between the phalanges. They include:
The finger joints are similar in structure to your knees. The surfaces where bones meet to form the joints are covered in cartilage. The cartilage allows the bones to move smoothly without rubbing together and causing friction.
A fibrous capsule covers and surrounds each joint and a synovial membrane (synovium) lines the inside of the capsule. The synovium releases fluid that lubricates and nourishes the joint and removes waste.
Anatomical Variations
Polydactylyinvolves having extra fingers or toes. The extra finger or toe might be a small nub or extra tissue, or a functioning digit with nerve endings, joints, and bone. An extra finger could be attached to extra joints or an extra bone.
Syndactylyis webbing or fusion of the fingers or toes.With this condition, the digits do not separate in the hand or foot. This condition is either simple or complex. When it is simple, only skin connects the digits.
With complex syndactyly, the bones may be fused, along with blood vessels, nerves, and other soft tissues. Both types of syndactyly affect the movement of and the ability to bend the finger joints.
A cleft hand means there are differences in the fingers or parts of the fingers.Often, the fingers in the center of the hand are missing, creating a V-shaped indentation (called a cleft). With cleft hand, movement of the finger joints can sometimes be restricted.
Brachydactyly(toe thumb) is a genetic variation causing the thumbs to be shorter or wider than usual, resembling a toe more than a thumb.
Your fingers are vital for completing everyday tasks. When any part of your hand is not working properly, daily activities like bathing, cooking, doing your job, and caring for children become harder.
One hand is made up of about 27 bones, and 14 of those are in your fingers.Each finger can move independently of the others, giving you flexibility andfine motor skills.
Normal movements of the fingers include:
Your thumb can perform those movements and more.Thecarpometacarpal(CMC) joint (where the thumb’s metacarpal bone meets the wrist) has a uniquely shaped bone (trapezium), allowing movement such as:
These movements are possible not only due to the joint but also because the thumb has its own muscles. By comparison, the other fingers don’t contain muscles.The muscles that move fingers are located in your palm and forearm.
The muscles in your forearm have tendons that connect to your fingers. Flexor muscles and tendons bend your fingers, while extensors straighten them. In addition to having similar flexor and extensor tendons, your thumb also has tendons allowing it to grasp objects and move in opposition (touching each finger).
Another interesting feature of the finger joints and hands is the ability to grip all types of objects. The hands can grip in two ways—with a power grip or a precision grip. A power grip can help lift large or heavy objects, whereas a precision grip is useful for holding smaller, more delicate objects.
With the power grip, you hold the object in the palm while the long flexor tendons help to pull the fingers and thumb so they can grasp the object tightly. Thanks to the fingers’ ability to flex and the thumb’s ability to position itself opposite the fingers, the power grip is possible, even with larger, heavier objects.
The precision grip helps with grasping small or delicate items, such as when writing with a pencil or using a pair of tweezers. This grip usually involves the use of the thumb and index fingers.
Problems with the finger joints can occur from many health conditions and injuries.
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis(OA), a wear and tear type of arthritis, usually begins in weight-bearing joints like your knees and hips, but can also affect the finger joints. OA often affects the joint connecting the thumb and wrist, the fingertips (DIP joints), and themiddle knuckles (PIP joints)of your fingers.
With OA, the cartilage between the finger joints wears down, and without this cushion, the finger bones will start to rub against each other. That rubbing causes pain, stiffness, and inflammation. Treatment slows the disease, but over time, more of the cartilage disappears, exposing the bones and causing increasing pain and stiffness.
Psoriatic arthritis(PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis that develops in people with psoriasis. In addition to affecting your finger joints, PsA may cause severe swelling, making your fingers get so large they resemble sausages.
Goutis also a type of inflammatory arthritis, but it has a different cause.This condition develops when uric acid (a natural waste product of metabolism and DNA production) builds up and turns into crystals in the joint. Gout causes sudden, very painful joint inflammation, usually during the night and most often at the base of your big toe. However, you can also have gout in your finger joints.
Acute Injuries
You may experience asudden acute injurylike a fracture from a direct blow, a fall, or from twisting, bending, or jamming the joint.The pain of an injury is often immediate and severe. You may also have bruising and swelling and limited movement in the affected finger.
Older adults are susceptible to injuries and fractures because people lose bone strength and muscle mass with age. Older adults also have a higher risk of injury because of changes to their vision or balance.
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries of the Thumb
Injuries to the ulnar collateral ligament(UCL) of the thumb are common.The UCL is the strong band of tissue that attaches to the middle joint (MCP joint) of the thumb and is essential for pinching and grasping. Any hard force on the inside of the thumb can injure the UCL. Repetitive movements strain the ligament, causing small tears and inflammation that get worse without treatment. Age-related tissue degeneration can also injure the ligament.
Finger Sprains and Dislocations
Finger sprains and dislocations are also common injuries.Finger sprains occur when the ligaments that stabilize the joints are stretched too far. A dislocation can occur when the finger joint is pushed out of its alignment.
Trigger Finger
Trigger fingeris a type of repetitive stress injury. Repeated movements cause inflammation and swelling that limit thumb and finger joint movement.
Symptoms of this type of injury include:
The stiffness and inability to bend the finger or thumb are worse in the morning. Stiffness lessens with movement and use of the affected finger joints.
You should seek medical attention if you experience finger joint pain or swelling that doesn’t improve in a few days or worsens. You should also consult a medical professional if you experience:
A broken bone, deep cut, or wound needs immediate medical attention.
Treatment for conditions that affect the finger joints is based on the cause and symptoms.
Injury
When you hurt a finger or more than one finger, rest and ice are usually first-line treatments, including for fractures.Your healthcare provider might also recommendnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) to manage the pain associated with the injury.
For an injury that won’t require surgery, your healthcare provider might suggest:
After the injury starts to heal, your healthcare provider may prescribephysical therapyto help you regain joint strength and movement.
Fractures and torn ligaments and tendons might need surgery. Surgery repairs the damage and restores function to the finger joints and/or an affected hand.
UCL Injuries
If a UCL injury isn’t properly treated, the MCP joint will become arthritic after a long period of instability.Once it becomes arthritic, you will need surgery to repair the damage.
Finger sprains and dislocations need a correct diagnosis and immediate care. Left untreated, the finger joints and bones will not heal correctly, leading to a loss of mobility or permanent joint damage.
Mild to moderate finger sprains and dislocations are usually treated withrest, ice, compression, elevation(RICE),splinting, and a stretching and exercise regimen. If there isn’t a bone break, a dislocated bone can be put back in place without surgery.But if there is a break or ligament involvement, surgery is needed to stabilize the affected finger so it can heal correctly.
Your healthcare provider might also recommendphysical therapyafter the affected joint has healed. Physical therapy can help restore mobility, range of motion, and strength.
If nonsurgical treatments don’t help, your healthcare provider might recommend surgery. Surgery involves widening the spaces around the tendons of the affected finger(s) or thumb.This will help restore the joint’s ability to bend and straighten without stiffness and pain.
Osteoarthritis
Treatment for OA of the hand and finger joints can help ease pain and improve the use of affected joints. This might include:
When treatments no longer ease the pain and your movement is severely limited, your healthcare provider might recommend surgery.They may do ajoint fusion, where the surgeon removes the damaged part of a joint and fuses the bones. Another option is surgery to remove the damaged joint and replace it with a new one.
Rheumatoid and Psoriatic Arthritis
When conditions like RA and PsA affect the digits of your hands, treatment starts with managing the source of those symptoms.
Treatment might include:
Gout
Gout is treated with dietary changes to eliminate foods and beverages containing a high amount of substances that raise uric acid levels. Medications are also included in your treatment. You may need medicines to reduce inflammation and lower uric acid production.
Summary
Your finger joints allow the fine, precise movement you need to pick up the tiniest object while having the strength to firmly grasp tools and perform manual labor. They’re constantly working, exposing them to stress and strain that can lead to many joint conditions.
17 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anatomy of the hand.The American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Joints.Nanayakkara VK, Cotugno G, Vitzilaios N, et al.The role of morphology of the thumb in anthropomorphic grasping: a review.Front. Mech. Eng, 2017;3. doi:10.3389/fmech.2017.00005Johns Hopkins Medicine.Congenital hand differences.Guero S, Holder-Espinasse M.Insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of split/hand foot malformation (cleft hand/foot).J Hand Surg EurVol. 2019 Jan;44(1):80-87. doi:10.1177/1753193418807375Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).How do hands work?American Society for Surgery of the Hand. The Electronic Textbook of Hand Surgery.Hands are everywhere.American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Osteoarthritis.Arthritis Foundation.When hand or wrist pain may mean arthritis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gout.University of Michigan.Finger, hand, and wrist injuries.Madan SS, Pai DR, Kaur A, Dixit R.Injury to ulnar collateral ligament of thumb.Orthop Surg. 2014;6(1):1-7. doi:10.1111/os.12084Childress MA, Olivas J, Crutchfield A.Common Finger Fractures and Dislocations.Am Fam Physician. 2022 Jun 1;105(6):631-639.OrthoInfo.Trigger finger.Leversedge FJ, Jennings CD.Sprained thumb. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Bashir MA, Arya A.A simple technique for injecting the small joints of the fingers and thumb using finger traps for traction.Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2016;98(5):343-344. doi:10.1308/rcsann.2016.0110Harvard Medical School.Getting a grip on hand osteoarthritis.
17 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anatomy of the hand.The American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Joints.Nanayakkara VK, Cotugno G, Vitzilaios N, et al.The role of morphology of the thumb in anthropomorphic grasping: a review.Front. Mech. Eng, 2017;3. doi:10.3389/fmech.2017.00005Johns Hopkins Medicine.Congenital hand differences.Guero S, Holder-Espinasse M.Insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of split/hand foot malformation (cleft hand/foot).J Hand Surg EurVol. 2019 Jan;44(1):80-87. doi:10.1177/1753193418807375Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).How do hands work?American Society for Surgery of the Hand. The Electronic Textbook of Hand Surgery.Hands are everywhere.American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Osteoarthritis.Arthritis Foundation.When hand or wrist pain may mean arthritis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gout.University of Michigan.Finger, hand, and wrist injuries.Madan SS, Pai DR, Kaur A, Dixit R.Injury to ulnar collateral ligament of thumb.Orthop Surg. 2014;6(1):1-7. doi:10.1111/os.12084Childress MA, Olivas J, Crutchfield A.Common Finger Fractures and Dislocations.Am Fam Physician. 2022 Jun 1;105(6):631-639.OrthoInfo.Trigger finger.Leversedge FJ, Jennings CD.Sprained thumb. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Bashir MA, Arya A.A simple technique for injecting the small joints of the fingers and thumb using finger traps for traction.Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2016;98(5):343-344. doi:10.1308/rcsann.2016.0110Harvard Medical School.Getting a grip on hand osteoarthritis.
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.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anatomy of the hand.The American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Joints.Nanayakkara VK, Cotugno G, Vitzilaios N, et al.The role of morphology of the thumb in anthropomorphic grasping: a review.Front. Mech. Eng, 2017;3. doi:10.3389/fmech.2017.00005Johns Hopkins Medicine.Congenital hand differences.Guero S, Holder-Espinasse M.Insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of split/hand foot malformation (cleft hand/foot).J Hand Surg EurVol. 2019 Jan;44(1):80-87. doi:10.1177/1753193418807375Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).How do hands work?American Society for Surgery of the Hand. The Electronic Textbook of Hand Surgery.Hands are everywhere.American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Osteoarthritis.Arthritis Foundation.When hand or wrist pain may mean arthritis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gout.University of Michigan.Finger, hand, and wrist injuries.Madan SS, Pai DR, Kaur A, Dixit R.Injury to ulnar collateral ligament of thumb.Orthop Surg. 2014;6(1):1-7. doi:10.1111/os.12084Childress MA, Olivas J, Crutchfield A.Common Finger Fractures and Dislocations.Am Fam Physician. 2022 Jun 1;105(6):631-639.OrthoInfo.Trigger finger.Leversedge FJ, Jennings CD.Sprained thumb. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Bashir MA, Arya A.A simple technique for injecting the small joints of the fingers and thumb using finger traps for traction.Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2016;98(5):343-344. doi:10.1308/rcsann.2016.0110Harvard Medical School.Getting a grip on hand osteoarthritis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anatomy of the hand.
The American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Joints.
Nanayakkara VK, Cotugno G, Vitzilaios N, et al.The role of morphology of the thumb in anthropomorphic grasping: a review.Front. Mech. Eng, 2017;3. doi:10.3389/fmech.2017.00005
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Congenital hand differences.
Guero S, Holder-Espinasse M.Insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of split/hand foot malformation (cleft hand/foot).J Hand Surg EurVol. 2019 Jan;44(1):80-87. doi:10.1177/1753193418807375
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).How do hands work?
American Society for Surgery of the Hand. The Electronic Textbook of Hand Surgery.Hands are everywhere.
American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Osteoarthritis.
Arthritis Foundation.When hand or wrist pain may mean arthritis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gout.
University of Michigan.Finger, hand, and wrist injuries.
Madan SS, Pai DR, Kaur A, Dixit R.Injury to ulnar collateral ligament of thumb.Orthop Surg. 2014;6(1):1-7. doi:10.1111/os.12084
Childress MA, Olivas J, Crutchfield A.Common Finger Fractures and Dislocations.Am Fam Physician. 2022 Jun 1;105(6):631-639.
OrthoInfo.Trigger finger.
Leversedge FJ, Jennings CD.Sprained thumb. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Bashir MA, Arya A.A simple technique for injecting the small joints of the fingers and thumb using finger traps for traction.Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2016;98(5):343-344. doi:10.1308/rcsann.2016.0110
Harvard Medical School.Getting a grip on hand osteoarthritis.
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