How fast do broken fingers heal

Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of a broken finger, and what you should do after a finger injury. The most accurate way to determine if you have a broken finger is to consult with your doctor.

In the meantime, here are five signs your finger might be broken. The most tell-tale symptom of a broken finger is immediate pain after the injury. A fracture will be painful, whereas a broken finger could still have some movement to it, and duller pain. It all depends on fracture stability, as some fractures can be more painful than others. Usually, after five to ten minutes, there will be bruising and swelling. The swelling can even affect the adjacent fingers too.

The finger will also stiffen. If you have a fingertip fracture, which is called a distal phalanx fracture can happen from and smashing injuries involving the fingernail. These symptoms include a bruising or swelling of the finger pad. Usually, there will also be purple-colored blood under the fingernail known as subungual hematoma. In some cases, the trauma can be so severe that the bone can becomes exposed through the soft tissues. This is called a compound fracture, and you should seek medical attention immediately.

Broken fingers are some of the most common traumatic injuries in an emergency room. This is because fingers are easily injured. The most common finger fractures occur in the bones located in the palm of the hand metacarpal bones on the finger bones phalanxes.

This makes sense since fingers are used for everyday activities. Finger injuries happen a lot during the workplace and sports injuries, as well as during other accidents. Your wrist is made up of eight bones. These bones move together to allow a vast range of motion in the wrist.

Your palm or mid-hand is made up of metacarpal bones. These bones have muscular attachments. The bridge of your wrist as the individual fingers. These bones are commonly injured during direct trauma like a crush or punching injury. As we mentioned earlier, these are the most frequently injured part of the hand. Fingers are made up of ligaments that are strong supportive tissue that connects bone to bone.

Fingers are also composed of tendons which attach the tissue from muscle to the bone. There are also three phalanxes bones. There are no muscles in the fingers, as they move by the pull of the forearm muscles on the tendons. There are three bones in each finger that are named due to their relationship to the palm of the hand. Knuckles are joints that are formed by bones of the fingers that can be injured or dislocated due to any trauma on the hand.

The first and biggest knuckle is the junction that is between the fingers and hand called the metacarpophalangeal joint or MCP. The next knuckle is out towards the fingernail and is called the proximal interphalangeal joint PIP.

This joint can get dislocated in sporting events when an object or ball directly strikes the finger. The farthest joint on the finger is called the distal interphalangeal joint DIP. Usually, injuries to this joint include a torn tendon avulsion injury or fracture. The orthopedic surgeon on an emergency doctor will determine how stable your broken finger is. If the fracture is stable, then the treatment could be as simple as buddy taping or splinting one finger to another. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety.

Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:. Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional.

If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Mark Yaffe , our hand specialists at Barrington Orthopedic Specialists. Our team of orthopedic hand specialists will get you the quick diagnosis and treatment you need to start recovering now.

Have questions? Contact us today. You will receive important news and updates from our practice directly to your inbox. Skip Main Content Previous Next. Is It Broken? Share this blog:. Here are some frequently-asked questions about finger fractures that can help you understand your injury: What are some common causes of broken fingers? How do I know if my finger is broken?