Finger Fracture

The hand contains 27 bones. There are 8 bones – the carpals – in the wrist. The palm of the hand contains 5 bones called the metacarpals. And, the 14 bones in the fingers are called the phalanges. Interestingly, fractures to the metacarpal bone that leads to the little finger accounts for about one-third of all hand fractures in adults.

Generally, a fractured finger occurs as the result of a hand injury, such as slamming a finger in the door or putting out a hand to break a fall. Carelessness when working with power saws, drills, and other tools can also result in a fractured finger.

While people think that a broken (fractured) finger is a minor injury, without proper treatment it can lead to major problems. The bones in a normal hand line up precisely and let you perform many specialized functions, such as grasping a pen or manipulating small objects in your palm. When a person fractures a finger bone, it can cause their whole hand to be out of alignment.

Symptoms of a fractured finger include: swelling, bruising and tenderness at the fracture site; inability to move the injured finger; and finger deformity. If you have these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical treatment

Treatment

Usually a broken finger bone can be put back into place without surgery. A splint or cast can hold a finger straight and protect it from further injury while it heals. Sometimes fingers next to the fractured one are splinted to provide additional support.

Depending on the type and severity of the fracture, surgery may be required to have pins, screws, or wire put in place to hold fractured bones together.