A broken finger or thumb can affect your entire hand, making even simple tasks like gripping, typing or holding objects difficult. If you suspect a finger fracture, it’s important to seek medical attention promptly to ensure proper alignment and healing.
Finger fractures occur when one or more bones in the finger are broken. These injuries can range from minor cracks to complex breaks that involve joints. Broken fingers or thumbs often occur after trauma like slamming your finger in a door, sports injuries or accidents involving tools and machinery.
Broken Finger Symptoms
Common signs of a finger fracture include:
- Swelling at the injury site
- Tenderness and pain
- Bruising
- Deformity or misalignment of the finger
- Limited or inability to move the injured finger
If you notice any of these symptoms after an injury, prompt evaluation by a healthcare provider is important to prevent long-term complications.
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Causes of Finger Fractures
Finger injuries can occur from a variety of situations:
- Crushed or slammed fingers
- Direct impact from hammers, balls or machinery
- Cuts or lacerations affecting bones, tendons or nerves
- Injuries to the nailbed or fingertip pulp
Certain injuries, like crush injuries or nailbed trauma, may require more specialized treatment, including dressing, splints, pins or sometimes surgery.
Thumb Fractures
The thumb plays a critical role in hand function, making thumb fractures particularly impactful. Loss of thumb function can interfere with gripping, pinching and everyday tasks, and certain types of fractures can increase the risk of arthritis later in life.
Treatment of Broken Fingers and Thumbs
Treatment depends on the severity and location of the fracture, but you may be recommended splints or casts, metal pins, dressing or sterile pads.
Surgical Options
You may need surgery if the bones are severely displaced or involve the joints; if internal fixation is involved using plates, screws or pins; and if there are incredibly severe crush injuries.
Broken Finger and Thumb Treatment at OrthoNebraska
Need relief from a broken thumb or finger in the Omaha area? At OrthoNebraska, we want to make sure that our patients feel understood, safe and confident to take on an appropriate treatment plan. With proper management, we can help you reduce pain levels and improve quality of life.
