A finger dislocation is considered as a prevalent form of injury. It arises once the finger bones are moved out of their normal position. The injury can affect any finger joints but typically in the middle knuckle of the little, ring, middle or index finger. In most cases, a dislocation can be accompanied by a fracture but can also occur without any breaks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFuvZvI_-B0
What are the potential causes?
- Accidents that involves a jamming force on the ends of the fingers or the finger is vigorously overextended.
- An outstretched finger might be struck during sports such as baseball or basketball.
- Finger is caught in equipment such as game pads or jersey.
- Falls onto an outstretched or extended hand.
What are the signs of a finger dislocation
An individual with a finger dislocation is easy to identify. The affected finger appears swollen, crooked and painful. It might even flex upwards or at unusual angles. In most cases, the individual could not bend or straighten the finger once it is dislocated.
- In a severe case of finger dislocation, it can be accompanied by tingling or numbness.
- The affected finger might appear pale.
- The dislocation might cause damage to the skin. Once this occurs, it is vital to seek medical attention right away.
- If the dislocation is accompanied by a break in the bone, it necessitates immediate medical care.
Management
If an individual has a finger dislocation, a doctor should be seen right away or bring him/her to the nearest emergency department.
- Once the finger is dislocated, swelling occurs. You can prevent further damage to the finger by removing any jewelry such as rings.
- Apply an ice pack on the affected finger and raise the hand higher than the level of the heart.
Medical care
Upon arrival at the healthcare facility, the doctor will realign the bones with a simple procedure. This might require an injection of a local anesthetic into the affected finger to reduce the pain and allow the doctor to realign the bones.
After realignment, the finger is placed under a splint or “buddy taped” to the next finger. This ensures that dislocations will not recur as well as prevent pain and further injury from movement.
A second X-ray is taken to confirm the alignment of the affected finger as well as check for any fractured bones that were not detected during the first X-ray.
Disclaimer / More Information
The information posted on this page on a finger dislocation is for learning and educational purposes only. To learn how the injury is managed, register for first aid training at one of our training centers located throughout Canada. The training centers are in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Kelowna, Saskatoon, Victoria, Surrey, Mississauga, Winnipeg, Red Deer, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.