Treating a Dislocated Finger
I see them all the time in the ER, and they can cause a whole lot of pain. That’s not to mention the horror of seeing your finger take a left turn from your other ones. For injuries occurring during sports, or out in the backwoods, you often can’t just drop what your doing and go to the ER. Many coaches or trainers will attempt to relocate the finger, sometimes fixing it, sometimes not! Here’s a basic guide to show you when, and how to attempt a finger relocation:
- Just keep in mind that you’ll eventually have to have a doctor look at it.
- If the dislocation is absolutely unbearably painful, or if the victim will not let you attempt a relocation, then simply splint it anyway you can to minimize the discomfort from the hand bouncing around, and go to the ER.
- If you decide to continue . . . .
- Gently squeeze the middle of the bones, NOT THE JOINT, in an attempt to see if the bone is
broken. If you hear any crunching, stop, splint, go to ER.
- Then feel the joint gently. Try to ascertain whether the tip of the distal (farther) bone is dislocated above or below the tip of the proximal (closer) bone. See the picture so you know what I mean.
- If your sure that the bones aren’t broken, the grab the first bone with one hand (the side before the dislocated joint), then grab the distal bone (the bone after the dislocated joint) and pull firmly.
- Many times you’ll have to apply direct pressure to the joint, with your thumb and forefinger, while pulling. In other words, you’ll take the joint between your thumb and index finger and pull the distal bone, while making a squeezing snapping motion.
- This maneuver isn’t for the queasy. It hurts like hell, then feels great after it’s back in. With that in mind, do it FAST AND DELIBERATELY. Don’t be wimpy and try not to hurt your buddy, just get it in the first time. If you feel any crunching like broken glass, STOP!
- You’ll feel it literally flop or pop back into place if you are successful.
- Check for full range of motion, or a remaining deformity, then go see a doctor.
- Have a beer, you deserve it!
- Gently squeeze the middle of the bones, NOT THE JOINT, in an attempt to see if the bone is
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wow, dislocating something is really painful and a little frightening to put back, but once you have popped it back in place your almost good as new, outside a little soreness and bruising.
Woah it seems a lot harder than I thought. everything I learned from the movies was to just pull firmly and it’ll be all good. Thanks for correcting my mistaken assumption
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Ouch, I remember when I was still in high school while playing basketball I got into an accident while grabbing the ball, I didn’t really knew what happened but the next thing I remember I was shouting in pain. Our assistant coach carried me to the clinic, it’s just one finger but it is so painful. Horrible experience.
That’s a good article about Treating a Dislocated Finger | Bones and Joints | Practical First …. Thanks for the info.
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing just a little study on that. And he really bought me lunch simply because I discovered it for him smile So allow me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!