About this topic
You have a few bones in each finger of your hand. A finger fracture happens when you break one of these bones. A finger fracture is most often caused by a fall or an accident. It can also happen when you play certain sports. ‚
There are many ways to help your fingers heal. Your doctor may tape your broken finger to the healthy finger next to it. This is called buddy-tape. You may need a splint or cast. If your finger is broken very badly, you may need surgery. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Rest your injured finger. Do not do any activity that causes pain.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful finger. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Do this a few times a day.
- Prop your hand on pillows and keep above the level of your heart to help with swelling.
- If you have a splint, wear it as much as you can. This will rest the broken bone and help with healing.
- If your finger was buddy-taped, your doctor will show you how to replace the gauze and tape.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- You may need an x-ray to make sure that the bone is fully healed. If you have a cast, your doctor will remove it after your bone has healed.
What drugs may be needed?
You may take over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for pain, like acetaminophen (Tylenol ‚ ®) or ibuprofen (Motrin). ‚
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
Will physical activity be limited?
- You may need to rest your hand for a while. You should not do physical activity that makes your health problem worse. If you work out or play sports, you may not be able to do those things until your health problem gets better.
What problems could happen?
- Long-term stiffness, pain, or arthritis in the finger
- Bone does not heal properly
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Prevent falls by not standing on chairs or other unstable things. Remove throw rugs, electric cords, and objects from floor areas.
- Eat a healthy diet to keep your bones healthy. Eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D.
- Do not punch or pound things with your hands.
- Wear proper padding and safety gear when playing sports or doing other activities.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Pain or swelling gets worse
- Finger is cold or numb
- Hand turns blue or gray
- Cast or splint gets damaged, breaks, or feels too tight
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my fracture.
- I can tell you how to care for my injured area.
- I can tell you what I will do if my finger is cold, numb, blue, or gray.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00257 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚