Finger Fractures
What are finger fractures?
Finger fractures are when one or more of the small bones in the finger or thumb break. The severity can range from minor cracks to displaced or open fractures.
Symptoms
- Pain (sharp or dull) at the site of the injury
- Swelling and bruising
- Redness or tenderness
- Stiffness or difficulty bending the finger
- Deformity/finger appearing crooked and out of alignment
- Numbness or having trouble moving fingers
- Bone breaking through skin
When to see a doctor
See a doctor immediately if your finger or thumb looks deformed or angled incorrectly, pain or swelling doesn't improve, or if you experience numbness, tingling, loss of motion, or see visible bone through the skin.
Prevention
- Use close-fitting gloves to reduce the risk of injury
- Keep hands low on the stick and close together
- Grip and wrist-strength exercises
- Tennis ball squeeze
- Towel wringing
- Wrist extension, weighted
- Wrist flexion, weighted
Treatment
- RICE (rest, ice, elevate, compress)
- NSAIDs
- Treatment can vary from finger splint to surgery depending on severity
Sources
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21784-broken-finger
- https://www.childrenshospital.org/sports-injury-prevention/field-hockey
- https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/movement-exercise/exercises-to-improve-grip-strength?srsltid=AfmBOoqO5zed9Os_ozR6HDRFXSkgeC7j7RxJXA5T8RGe0wFDSSawR3Ni
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/wrist-strengthening-exercises-2696622
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/forearm-workouts-strengthening-grip-for-everyday-function