Finger Dislocation

CONDITION

Finger dislocation happens when one finger bone slips out of its normal alignment and moves forward or backward off another finger bone (Figure 1).

• Each finger has two joints beyond the knuckle on the back of your hand. Skin creases on the undersides of your fingers mark each of these joints.
• The middle bone of the finger dislocates most often. Usually, the end nearest your hand moves up and backward off the adjoining bone.
• Dislocation is the most common finger joint injury.
• Serious injuries including broken bones and damage to ligaments, nerves and blood vessels inside the finger can happen with finger dislocations.

Figure 1.

CAUSES

Finger dislocations occur when you jam your finger on something such as a basketball or when your finger gets caught on something like a football jersey or a basketball net. Other things that can cause dislocation include:

• a direct hit or blow to the finger
• bending or twisting injuries, especially if the finger is bent backward too much
• jamming or twisting your finger when you fall.

Prior finger dislocations and injuries can increase your risk of future dislocations.

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

• You will feel immediate pain over the dislocated finger joint.
• You will notice swelling shortly after your injury. Swelling and stiffness can be worse the day after your injury.
• Your finger will be bent, crooked or have a large lump next to a cavity or step-off over the dislocated joint.
• There may be numbness and tingling along the sides or at the tip of your finger.
• You will have problems bending your dislocated finger joint into a fist or straightening it.
• Your finger may look pale toward the tip.
• There will sometimes be a cut in the skin near the dislocation, especially if you have a broken bone.
• You may hear a pop when the finger dislocates or when the bones go back into place.
• If the bones go back into place, your pain may get somewhat better.

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR

Call your doctor right away (day or night) or seek immediate care if:

• Your finger is numb and stays that way for more than a few minutes.
• The skin is cut near the dislocated finger joint, especially if you see bone through the cut.
• You hear crunching or think you have a finger fracture.
• Your finger is bent, crooked or you notice a big lump in your finger.
• Your finger is pale and cold.
• You have severe pain and problems bending or straightening your finger.

Call your doctor during regular office hours if your finger was dislocated, went back into place, you have only mild to moderate pain and:

• You have no numbness, tingling or problems with sensation in your finger.
• You can fully bend or straighten your finger after your injury.
• You have no skin cut over the injured joint.
• Your finger is not pale or cold.

SELF-CARE AT HOME

Remove rings from your injured finger immediately after your injury if you can so they don’t get stuck or cause problems when swelling starts. Rings can get stuck and may need to be cut off in the emergency room.

DO NOT try to put your finger back into the normal position without the help of a medical professional.

Do not pull hard on your finger to try to get it to go back into place because doing so can, in some situations, cause more damage.

Experienced school athletic trainers can sometimes fix finger dislocations.

Place an ice pack or a cold pack over your finger for up to 20 minutes hourly until you see a doctor. The skin on your fingers is thin and susceptible to frostbite, so use a washcloth between the ice and your skin.

You can put a finger support or brace on your finger if it is in a near-straight position.

• Aluminum splints can be found at most drug stores (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

• If you can’t find an aluminum splint, a Popsicle® stick will work.
• Tape the splint to your finger above and below the injured joint in the most comfortable position you can find. Athletic tape works best.

If you have a cut in your skin, cover it with a new, clean bandage before putting a splint on.