How to Treat Broken Fingers
Causes of Broken Fingers
The fingers are particularly vulnerable to injury due to their prominent position and constant use. Common causes include “putting your hands out to break your fall, slamming your fingers in a door and reaching to grab a something that is in motion, such as swing.” Multiple fingers may break simultaneously in severe injuries.
Types of Broken Fingers
Fractures are categorized by their characteristics:
- Avulsion fracture: A tendon or ligament pulls away with attached bone
- Shear fracture: Forces cause the bone to split into two pieces
- Impacted fracture: Broken bone ends are forced together
- Nondisplaced fracture: Cracked but stable bone that doesn’t move
- Displaced fracture: Bone pieces separate and misalign
- Comminuted fracture: Bone breaks into three or more pieces
- Closed fracture: Skin remains intact with contained break
- Open fracture: Bone protrudes through the skin
Treating Broken Fingers
Treatment depends on fracture type and severity. Simple nondisplaced fractures may only require “the broken fingers to be strapped together while the bones heal.” More severe displaced or comminuted fractures typically require surgery to align bones properly, repair damaged ligaments or tendons, and remove loose fragments.
Recovery typically spans “six weeks to six months depending on the severity of your injury.” Physical therapy may support rehabilitation and restore full finger function.
